CARBONDALE, Ill. — Southern Illinois University women’s basketball coach Kelly Bond-White announced on Tuesday that the program has added 2022 NJCAA Second Team All-American Promise Taylor.
“Establishing and solidifying our interior presence was of the utmost importance to me and my staff,” said Bond-White. “Today we took a giant step in the right direction!”
A native of Issaquah, Wash., Taylor spent this past season at Grayson College, where she averaged 7.2 rebounds per game and 11.7 points per game on 57.5% shooting. Taylor also averaged 5.6 blocks per game in conference play. She previously played at Ole Miss, where she was a member of the 2018 SEC All-Freshman Team, as well as Mississippi State before temporarily halting her career due to injury.
“All the coaches have worked so hard so that I could be a part of their team,” said Taylor. “For a while it looked like I wasn’t going to be able to play NCAA basketball ever again, but Coach Bond believed that I could be a great basketball player so she fought for me.”
“Toughness, resiliency and grit are all characteristics Promise will bring to SIU,” said Bond-White. “I competed against Promise her freshman year at Ole Miss when she dominated the paint in conference play. She was a dual threat with a face-up game, but once she got it low she was even more efficient.”
Taylor was named to the SEC All-Freshman Team after 8.3 points per game and 6.0 rebounds per game while shooting an even 60% from the field. Taylor set an Ole Miss single-season blocks record (82) in the same game that she set the program’s single-game record (10). She was third in the conference with 2.4 blocks per game, and led the conference from the field in league games, shooting 65.5 percent.
“Defensively, Promise’s physical nature and size allows her to alter shots and rebound out of space,” said Bond-White.
During her time in Starkville with Mississippi State for the 2019-20 season, Taylor had a field goal percentage of 67% and posted her best game against new Missouri Valley Conference member Murray State, scoring 10 points and securing seven boards.
Prior to her collegiate career, Taylor played at Sammamish High School in Issaquah, where she averaged 23.8 points, 13.5 rebounds and 7.3 blocks per game as a senior. Taylor played in AAU for the Northwest Greyhounds under coach Buck Buchanan.
“I’ve known Promise since she came to play for me in seventh grade,” said Buchanan. “As a person and as a player, she hates to let anybody down. She’ll knock a wall down for you.”
“We challenged Promise early on in the recruiting process and she delivered,” said Bond-White. “I believe she knows we will hold her to those same standards when she arrives.”
During Taylor’s senior year of high school, she scored in double-digits in every game and had single-digit rebounds in just one contest.
“On the floor, she’s a great rim protector,” said Buchanan. “She’s going to rebound and she’s going to be a good teammate.”
“I feel so blessed to have the opportunity to be a Saluki,” said Taylor. “My coaches and all my teammates are amazing people and I couldn’t be happier to join the SIU family.”
“Our program is all about family, and we’re beyond excited to add Promise’s to ours,” said Bond-White. “Saluki Nation will love them just as we’ve loved getting to know them through the recruiting process.”
“I just want everyone in the SIU family to know how much we appreciate the opportunity to be a part of the program,” said Julia Taylor, Promise Taylor’s mother. “We feel like the coaches are the epitome of hard work and determination, and we feel blessed and honored to be a part of Coach Bond’s first season at SIU.”
What They’re Saying About Promise Taylor
“A coveted true center is difficult to attain, but Kelly and her staff made it happen with the commitment from Promise Taylor! The top center prospect in the nation by the Collegiate Girls Basketball Report, Taylor is imposing in the paint, will be a shot blocker and a low-post offensive threat for the Salukis.”
-Dan Olson, Owner, Collegiate Girls Basketball Report www.girlsbasketballreport.com
