Jordan Taylor

Classroom

Taylor maintains a 2.6 overall GPA and a 3.0 GPA within the competitive Wisconsin School of Business. He’s on pace to graduate in May. After graduation, his career interests include sports agent and sports law.

Character

Taylor is the unquestioned leader and captain of the team on and off the floor. He displayed a professional mindset while serving as “coach” during the summers leading the team through strength and conditioning regiments. Taylor has earned the respect of his peers through tireless work ethic and is routinely the first player on the practice floor and the last player to leave. “Dating back to his sophomore season, he became the voice that when he speaks, everyone listens,” coach Bo Ryan said. “He has demonstrated both on and off the court the leadership qualities that you want in a point guard and a captain. His dedication and work ethic set the example that everyone follows.” Taylor put his senior season above a chance to play internationally, opting to have ankle surgery instead of competing in the World University Games in China. “I really wanted to play for USA Basketball; there’s no greater honor than that,” Taylor said this summer. “But I have to get ready for our season and by having the surgery now it will give me a chance to get completely healthy. I definitely owe it to my teammates at Wisconsin to be healthy going into my final year.’’

Community

Taylor is involved with the Big Brothers/Big Sisters program in the Madison area, helping foster relationships between children and their mentors. He has also been very active in the Go Big Read literacy program, reading at elementary schools all over the Madison area, and has served as the guest spokesman for Madison-area school district’s physical-fitness programs.

Competition

As a junior, Taylor earned consensus second-team All-American honors after leading the nation with a 3.83 assist-to-turnover ratio, the fourth-highest mark in NCAA history. His other honors last season included first-team All-Big Ten, Big Ten All-Defensive team and he was one of five finalists for the Bob Cousy Award, which is given to the top point guard in the nation. His 18.1 points per game last season was the fifth-highest total in school history. Taylor enters his senior season with the best career assist-to-turnover ratio in Wisconsin history (3.23). He’s a consensus preseason All-American and on the watch list for the 2012 John R. Wooden Award.