By JARROD POTTER
TAKING his game to new levels, local basketballer Blake Taylor is on the fast-track to success after earning his first major Victorian jersey.
The long-time Casey Cavaliers player made the switch to Dandenong Rangers Under 16s team in recent seasons and has loved every second at his new club.
That switch has opened the door for Taylor, including his side qualifying for the Victorian Championship and being on the verge of qualifying for the National Junior Classic, and helped him move towards the Big V.
He’ll trade the Dandenong jumper for a representative jersey though – as Taylor, 14, Narre Warren South, will represent Victoria’s metropolitan region later this year.
Such is the two-guard’s talent that he’s been picked for the Basketball Victoria Under 16 Vic Metro team, set to head off to Kilsyth for the Under 16 national championships in July.
“I’d made other Vic Metro teams, but they’re more development teams I guess and not a state team as such,” Taylor said. “I’m pretty proud – it’s obviously a big accomplishment and an honour to be in the team really.”
“I’m a shooting guard, two man, and basically a shooter – sit me in the corner – love to shoot from the corner – and occasionally when needed I run the point guard or three-man, but mainly the two.”
With a power packed arsenal assembled from across the state, Taylor believes the Vic Metro squad has enough in the tank to bring another title back to Victoria.
“It’s a good group of kids and we’ve got a fairly good team chemistry and should do quite well I think,” Taylor said.
In 2015 he made the switch to the green-and-gold and everything is going peachy for the junior guard, who thinks the side is capable of making the Classic.
“I kind of wanted a change, play with some other players as Dandenong has some great players I wanted to play with,” Taylor said. “We’re hoping to go to the Junior Classic – sitting fourth or fifth in the pool – there’s a little bit more to go but fingers crossed.”
