Ray’Sean Taylor

BORN: –

LAST TEAM: SIU-Edwardsville Cougars(NCAA)

HEIGHT: 6-1 / 185 cm

WEIGHT: 180 / 82 kg

PRO

• Scoring versatility
• Toughness – Leadership
• Perimeter defense

WEAKNESSES

• Shot selection and 3-P consistency
• Size – not elite athleticism
• Management possessions

VIDEO

EUROBASKET.COM

REALGM.COM

ACTUAL

POTENTIAL

INTRODUCTION

Ray’Sean Taylor emerged as a local hero at SIU-Edwardsville after a difficult start, overcoming ACL injuries during summer workouts in 2020. In his freshman year, he developed into the team’s franchise player, being nominated for Freshman of the Week five times, but the Freshman of the Year award went to Johni Broome. He was the team’s leader in the following seasons as well, and in 2023, he was selected for the OVC First-Team, but it was in his senior year that he completed his journey. He led the Ohio Valley Conference in scoring, earned OVC Player of the Year and Tournament MVP honors, and became SIUE’s all-time leading scorer with 1,962 points, also guiding the Cougars to their first-ever NCAA appearance with a victory in the Conference tournament.

PHYSICAL

Ray’Sean Taylor is compact yet strong, given his limited size. He possesses a solid frame that helps him absorb contact while attacking the rim. However, having greater muscle development in the upper body could help him better maintain balance in traffic. While his athleticism is adequate and he runs the floor well, he doesn’t possess elite quickness or burst. Coordinated and with excellent spacing ability, he has a good sense of positioning and toughness that compensates in many matchups scenarios. His reactiveness aids in rebounding and defensive disruption, though his lack of size limits him against bigger opponents.

OFFENSIVE PHASE

Ray’Sean Taylor is a high-usage point guard who excels at creating and converting scoring opportunities. His quickness in creating off-the-dribble shots makes him a constant threat, and his mid-range pull-up after using his teammate’s screen is reliable, able to finish at the rim (49.8% from 2-P on 6.2 attempts). He uses a quick release even from beyond the three-point arc, where he is comfortable in hand-off situations or coming off screens; overall, his shot selection could improve (33.9% on 8 attempts). He draws fouls frequently, ranking third in free throws attempted in the Conference with 5.6 per game. Additionally, he serves as a handler, averaging 3.7 assists. While he shows solid court vision and pocket passes in pick-and-roll situations, he can be prone to turnovers in traffic (2.5 per game) and has an assist-to-turnover ratio (+1.5 last season) that sees him perform better with a more facilitating handler. Overall, he is a scorer with good leadership, capable of managing the pace and involving his teammates.

DEFENSIVE PHASE

Ray’Sean Taylor showcases high effort on defense, averaging 1.9 steals per game (fourth in OVC) thanks to his timing on doubles and quick hands. He competes aggressively on the perimeter in on-ball situations and crashes the boards, averaging 4.6 rebounds, often igniting transition opportunities. His anticipation and toughness compensate for limited lateral quickness and lack of size, though he may struggle against more athletic or bigger guards in space. He battles through contact but is susceptible to fouling in closeout situations, averaging 2.4 fouls per game. He has significant room for improvement in terms of discipline and impact, but he manages to bring energy even if not consistently and continuously.

IMPROVED AREAS

Ray’Sean Taylor must improve his shot selection and overall efficiency from beyond the arc, especially considering the high volume of attempts. He also needs to limit turnovers and refine his decision-making in high-pressure situations, particularly when facing aggressive defensive schemes. Physically, he’ll need to adapt to facing bigger and more athletic opponents, working on his body strength and lateral quickness to stay effective on both ends of the floor. A more consistent defensive discipline and a clearer offensive identity beyond scoring would help him evolve from a college star to a reliable pro contributor. For his rookie season, he is an interesting fit for a mid-to-low level league team looking for a scoring leader capable of creating for his teammates as well.