Taylor to Marquette

Tyshawn Taylor, a 6-foot-3 combination guard from St. Anthony in Jersey City, gave an oral commitment to Marquette Monday night.

Taylor chose Marquette over Georgia Tech, Virginia Tech and North Carolina and becomes the sixth player in the St. Anthony Class of 2008 to commit to a Division I school. He is ranked No. 21 among point guards in the Class of 2008, and 104 overall.

"I know that my mind's not going to change," Taylor said Monday night by phone. "I told the coaches from Marquette earlier tonight."

Taylor, who is originally from Hoboken but now lives in Jersey City, visited Marquette over the weekend and that was enough to trigger his decision.

"The campus is beautiful," he said. "I love the coaching staff and the opportunity to play. I just liked it."

Taylor had previously visited Georgia Tech and Virginia Tech, and North Carolina came on late, asking him to take a visit.

"I'm honored to have that opportunity and say that they offered me," he said.

Taylor said he expects to get playing time at the point guard position, but he could play the two as well.

Marquette could lose junior Dominic James to the NBA, and guards Wesley Matthews and Jerel McNeal are also juniors. David Cubillian, a sophomore from Venezuela who played at St. Benedict's, is also a sophomore.

"I feel like I can slide right in," Taylor said. "My playing time is going to be there."

Taylor joins five St. Anthony juniors who have committed D-1: Mike Rosario (Rutgers), Jio Fontan (Fordham), Alberto Estwick (Fordham), Travon Woodall (Pitt) and A.J. Rogers (St. Joseph).

Junior guard Dominic Cheek may be the most talented of the group. He appears to be leaning toward North Carolina, but Taylor said he's now working on getting him to come to Marquette.

"Now that I'm committed, I'm trying to get him to go to Marquette," Taylor said. "I would definitely like that."