Ray Taylor is returning to his hometown.
The 5-foot-6 point guard is transferring from FAU, as he has decided to join FIU, according to a press release. Taylor, a junior, announced in March after the season that he was declaring for the NBA Draft, but decided to withdraw his name.
Taylor will be eligible to play in 2013-2014.
Taylor is the second Owls guard to leave FAU for FIU this summer, along with Dennis Mavin. Taylor and Owls head coach Mike Jarvis had an up-and-down relationship over his three years at FAU, often clashing during games, but Taylor said he learned plenty from Jarvis in his time in Boca.
“He’s taught me tremendous lessons about being a man,” point guard Ray Taylor said to the UP in February. “That’s one of the great things about coach Jarvis. It’s not just basketball. I forget that life is more important than basketball. He teaches you that lesson even when you don’t want to take it. It’s like the medicine you don’t want to take when you’re sick. He enjoys giving it to you. He enjoys building men of character.”
Now Taylor gets the opportunity for a fresh start in a familiar city. New FIU head coach Richard Pitino was happy for the pair joining his team.
“We are extremely excited about the addition of Dennis Mavin and Ray Taylor,” Pitino said to FIU Sports. “Both guys were integral parts of their championship run in the Sun Belt at FAU two years ago. Both Dennis and Ray are incredible kids who will represent our program and this great university the right way.”
Taylor averaged 8.9 points on last season’s 11-19 squad, down from the 11.6 he averaged as a part of the 2010 Sun Belt regular season championship team.
