Tayler Hill
Minnesotan Tayler Hill is looking at six schools.
Tayler Hill's talents are hard to hide on the court – but up until now, she's been doing a pretty good job of keeping her college thoughts to herself.
But once word got out that Rutgers and Duke were on her list, Hill decided she might as well open up even more, and now it's time to add Cal, Marquette, Minnesota and UCLA to the list as well. But that said, don't expect to hear much more in the near future. Hill's older brother P.J., was recruited out of high school and is now playing at Ohio State, and she listened when he talked about his experience.
Tayler Hill is from a hoops family.
"He gave me a lot of tips," says the 5-foot-9 guard with the sweet stroke. "The main thing I learned is to be patient, to take your visits, and to get to know the players and coaches."
And Hill, as her list implies, has no geographic biases. She'll go east, west, north or south, wherever the fit is best. But that doesn't mean she lacks Minnesota pride. "I'm proud to represent our state," she says, as since the Miller twins, Kelly and Coco, left the Land of 10,000 Lakes back in the late ?90s, there have been trickles of talent (Lindsay Whalen, Janel McCarville) but nowhere near a flood.
"It's starting to get a lot more serious," Hill says. "Girls are understanding it's a business and not a social opportunity."
It's certainly serious for Hill, who grew up in a basketball family. Her father played at the junior-college level, and her older sister, Tanysha, played at Minnesota-Duluth. "She used to push me around," says Hill, as did her brother P.J., who's in line for the starting point guard spot at Ohio State next season. "I beat him – once. I was a freshman, and it was by a couple points." She laughs. "He doesn't let me beat him any more," but she can claim bragging rights over her smaller, older sister.
Tayler Hill aims for a state title.
Ranked 10th in the 2009 class by ESPN HoopGurlz, Hill would like to get some national bragging rights as well. She went to the USA Basketball U18 National Team Trials with 33 other hopefuls last week. There were only 12 spots available, but Hill knows the drill – she played in the Youth Development Festival at the same site last year. But in this case, experience may not help all that much.
"I don't think it's easier the second time," Hill says. "It's always a challenge. You have to be smart, because all of these players have a high basketball IQ."
But despite Hill's own heady play, and her undeniable backcourt skills, there's one thing missing from her resume: a Minnesota state title. Her Minneapolis South Tigers have lost to St. Paul Central in the state playoffs the last three seasons, and that doesn't sit well with Hill. "I'm sick of losing to St. Paul Central," she says. "I need them in a championship game – I want to leave high school with a ring."
