2020 PF Elijah Taylor Talks Notre Dame Commitment
Elijah Taylor still had one official visit left, but after taking his official to Notre Dame earlier this month, the 2020 Philadelphia power forward had seen enough and committed to the Irish just days later.
“It’s both sides of the coin,” the 6-foot-8, 230-pounder said of Notre Dame. “Usually, when athletes look for a school, they either go with the biggest name or where they can play immediately.
“Notre Dame checked off all of my boxes being a good academic school with high academic prestige. Notre Dame plays in front of millions every year, the ACC is one of the best leagues in the country. Notre Dame goes up against the best and that’s what I want to be a part of.”
Mike Brey and his staff were a big reason why Taylor chose the Irish over offers from schools like Florida, Pitt, Seton Hall and VCU among others.
“I trust them guys,” Taylor explained. “In the short time that I’ve known them, I’ve grown to trust them and think I can talk to them about anything. With people like that, I take that as a good sign and that’s what I did.
“Mike Brey has been there almost 20 years. I don’t have to feel insecure about whether or not he’s leaving because he’s built an organization over there and I don’t feel like he’s going to throw that away for anything else.”
The opportunity to play as a freshman was “a bonus.”
“I come from a place where I have to rumble often and I’m used to that,” he said of having to earn playing time. “I’m used to the competition…It’s just how the game goes sometimes.”
The Imhotep Institute Charter High School standout believes he can add “a certain energy and toughness” to the program.
“Being an inner-city kid and knowing the wars and the ins and outs, having that kind of experience, it won’t click right away as a freshman, but having that experience of knowing what it’s like to be at the bottom of the totem pole and the top helps with the adjustment,” he said.
Taylor hopes to add many other great players to the program, but as a quiet, reserved young man, he’ll leave the recruiting to the staff.
“If guys want to come here, they’ll come here. If not, that’s on them and they’ll miss the opportunity to be a part of something good.”