GLENDALE, Ariz. — It was fitting that Jayden Taylor was tucked in a corner of NC State basketball’s locker room on Friday at State Farm Stadium.
“Probably a little bit (of an) unsung hero,” Wolfpack coach Kevin Keatts said of Taylor, a Butler transfer who started the first 24 games of the season before shifting to a role off the bench in 11 of the last 16 games.
With No. 1 seeded Purdue (33-4) up next for the 11th-seeded Wolfpack (26-14) on Saturday (6:09 p.m. ET, TBS), Taylor has the potential to be an X-factor at the Final Four.
When asked about his role being defined as an "unsung hero," Taylor flashed a smile.
“I kind of like that, too, now. I’m gonna go with Coach Keatts. I’m the unsung hero,” Taylor said.
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The 6-foot-4, 195-pound junior guard is averaging 11.2 points and 3.6 rebounds per game, but his scoring has been down in the NCAA Tournament. Though he’s averaging 4.2 points through four games in March Madness, Taylor has shown his capability as a scorer with 20 or more points in six games this season.
But, like the Wolfpack during its postseason run, Taylor's calling card is defense. Just ask DJ Horne, one of NC State’s postseason stars.
“I would say Jayden has just been that defensive dog for us. That’s been a role that he wanted to claim from day one,” Horne said. “To see us go out there and already be a team that takes pride in defense, and him kind of just taking charge, it definitely gives the rest of the team energy.”
Horne’s head coach agrees with that assessment.
“He’s been really, really good for us defensively. He’s one of the guys that really anchors our defense,” Keatts said.
“. ... He’s had some stretches that may have not been talked about like some of the other guys. He’s had five or six games where I thought he’s really played well. He’s really grown. When he came here, he was trying to do too much. Now, he’s comfortable with what he’s doing. … I tell you what, he’s another guy who’s been so important to our run.”
As NC State prepares for its 10th elimination game in a row, Taylor said he'll continue to embrace his role with hopes of helping the Wolfpack complete its run Monday night.
“With this team, we’ve got so many guys, night in and night out, who can just do anything,” he said. “Whatever the team needs, I’m willing to do – whether that’s the dirty work or going to shoot or going to just chase somebody around.”
Staff writer Rodd Baxley can be reached at rbaxley@fayobserver.com or @RoddBaxley on X/Twitter.
This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: Jayden Taylor, NC State basketball's ‘unsung hero,' could be X-factor at Final Four
