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BU recruit- class of 2013- Nathan Taphorn

Da Coach

Da Coach

Moderator
Staff member
Class of 2013- Nathan Taphorn, a 6'6" shooting guard from Pekin HS received an offer from Bradley Coach Geno Ford today. Taphorn was on the Bradley campus on an unofficial visit. Nathan has grown from 6'2" at the beginning of his sophomore season, to 6'6" now, and impressed everyone with some tremendous shooting at the Bill Hensley Memorial Run 'n Slam All-Star Classic in Ft. Wayne, Indiana this past weekend, including a 28 point game.
http://rivals.yahoo.com/basketballrecruiting/basketball/recruiting/player-Nathan-Taphorn-126489

http://ilprepbullseye.com/Taphorn_Stock_Raiser.html
 
Nathan is the son of Pat Taphorn who played at UW-Green Bay and not Matt who played at ISU
He's a great kid from a great family...and Pat is good friends with Jeremy Crouch...
Nathan is still very thin but is a lot like Kyle Korver in that he is also very smart and knows the game.
 
I was a bit surprised by the early offer. I know he was decent last year, but I wasn't overly impressed the couple of times I saw him. How much upside is there and how much of this offer is a knee-jerk to a good AAU outing which has put him on the radar of bigger programs?
 
So do you think Illinois, Michigan, Purdue, Northwestern, DePaul, Boston College, Missouri, Tennessee, Indiana, Wisconsin, and Missouri State and other schools are all over-reacting, too? All those schools have called Nathan or his AAU coach and want to schedule visits, and I predict most will offer eventually.
 
taphorn

taphorn

Kudos to Coach Ford for doing his homework and offering him early...he will have plenty of d1 offers and hopefully he will remember Bradley offering him first...great upside.
 
runninfiend said:
I was a bit surprised by the early offer. I know he was decent last year, but I wasn't overly impressed the couple of times I saw him. How much upside is there and how much of this offer is a knee-jerk to a good AAU outing which has put him on the radar of bigger programs?
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This is NOT a knee jerk offer. He would be a great get if we can pull it off. I've known his father a very long time. In fact I officiated many of his games in HS. The kid can play and will only get better. Here's hoping we can get him on the hilltop in a couple of years. If not mistaken I think he is related to JC thru marriage. Don't know if that would help now or not.
 
Da Coach said:
So do you think Illinois, Michigan, Purdue, Northwestern, DePaul, Boston College, Missouri, Tennessee, Indiana, Wisconsin, and Missouri State and other schools are all over-reacting, too? All those schools have called Nathan or his AAU coach and want to schedule visits, and I predict most will offer eventually.
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Hey, I'm just asking the question. He wasn't all-conference in the Mid Illini or ever the best player on a losing Pekin team and now he's a high D-1 covet? I don't remember him standing out all that much, wondering if anyone has seen him more. Certainly a 6' 6" kid who can shoot is worth a look, but yes, you have to wonder if some of this is AAU hype. I only saw Pekin a couple of times so I don't have a large sample size, but why were guys like Will Headen and Mark Roth selected in front of him for conference honors? Is that an upperclass thing?
 
Kids can change rapidly at that age. At this time last season Nathan was 6'2", very skinny, and not a great ball handler. His shot was good, but not nearly as good as it is now. It has more to do with how much he's grown, and how fast he's developed that has the D1 schools hot on his trail.
 
runninfiend said:
Hey, I'm just asking the question. He wasn't all-conference in the Mid Illini or ever the best player on a losing Pekin team and now he's a high D-1 covet? I don't remember him standing out all that much, wondering if anyone has seen him more. Certainly a 6' 6" kid who can shoot is worth a look, but yes, you have to wonder if some of this is AAU hype. I only saw Pekin a couple of times so I don't have a large sample size, but why were guys like Will Headen and Mark Roth selected in front of him for conference honors? Is that an upperclass thing?
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Recruiting a guy 2 years out is all about potential, nothing more nothing less. I take it the GF like the make up of this kid and believes he has the necessary tools to develop into a pretty good D1 prospect or otherwise I doubt he would have been given an offer. I would believe the guys ahead of him do not have the same potential but are ahead of him right now because they are more mature/older... I'm not sure what you are trying to get at this is all common sense.
 
Da Coach said:
Kids can change rapidly at that age. At this time last season Nathan was about 6'2", very skinny, and not a great ball handler. His shot was good, but not nearly as good as it is now. It has more to do with how much he's grown, and how fast he's developed that has the D1 schools hot on his trail.
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Wow, that's good info. I had no idea he started the season at 6' 2". That's a lot of physical growth in one year, and skill improvement despite the growth spurt could portend really good things. Kids that grow that quickly often have a skill lag where they have to learn to navigate with their new frame. One to watch this season for sure.
 
SFP said:
Recruiting a guy 2 years out is all about potential, nothing more nothing less. I take it the GF like the make up of this kid and believes he has the necessary tools to develop into a pretty good D1 prospect or otherwise I doubt he would have been given an offer. I would believe the guys ahead of him do not have the same potential but are ahead of him right now because they are more mature/older... I'm not sure what you are trying to get at this is all common sense.
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I understand, but is common practice to offer a scholarship to a Soph. based soley on potential?
 
Geno 2 steps ahead

Geno 2 steps ahead

Looks like Geno is two steps ahead of everyone in the Taphorn case...not only did he get him on campus first but he offered first...
 
Nate Taphorn is having a great AAU tourney this weekend and is leading his Wolves to the title...
http://scouthoops.scout.com/2/1086942.html

"Nate Taphorn, SF, Illinois Wolves -- Another interesting prospect on the loaded Wolves squad is this 6-foot-6 wing. Taphorn is great in catch and shoot situations, but he's not scared to mix it up for boards and make some plays going towards the basket. He finished with 14 points in 16's title game. ..."
 
Nate Taphorn's performance this past weekend has coaches talking and the offers are starting to roll in...

Today he has gotten two more offers -- from SIU & Chris Lowery and from Tim Miles/Colorado State
 
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