Jimmie Taylor III was a star at Suwannee High. He averaged 24 points, 10 rebounds and six assists as a senior. 

LIVE OAK, Fla. — As far back as Jimmie Taylor III can remember, basketball has always been a big part of his life. It all started at Jenkins Park, where he got started as a 3-year-old developing the skills that made him a standout player at a young age.

Taylor went on to dazzle in travel leagues — calling his three years with the Suwannee Stars some of the best times he’s had playing basketball — and dominated at Suwannee High School from 2009-2013.

Now the Branford native is excelling in college — leading Rider University in scoring through 11 games this season. A senior, he’s averaging 14.6 points per game for the 8-3 Broncs.

Taylor has improved steadily in his time at Rider, a Division I program in New Jersey that competes in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference. He entered the season averaging 10.6 PPG in 97 career games.

The 6-foot-4 guard believes dedicating time to different aspects of the game has helped this season.

Taylor still spends countless hours practicing his shot like he did in Jenkins Park, but there’s much more that needs to be done to compete at a high level.

“Watching film, studying the game, working in the weight room to get stronger and have more physical endurance,” Taylor said were some of the reasons why he’s off to the best start in his four seasons with the Broncs.

Basketball family

Taylor III has always had a leg up on the competition. He learned the game from one of the best ever to play at Branford High School — his father Jimmie Taylor Jr.

Taylor Jr. teamed up with Branford’s all-time leading scorer Richie Frye in the mid-80’s, part of the run-and-gun Buccaneers team that often scored 100 points per game. The duo, nicknamed salt and pepper, put Branford basketball on the map with a unique style of play that focused on putting up as many shot as possible.

Frye remains best friends with Taylor Jr. and watched Taylor III grow up playing basketball and football.

“He reminds me a lot of his daddy,” said Frye. “They’re both all-around athletes. He was always way above. He started to stand out in the third grade.”

There’s another Taylor on the sports scene this year. Suwannee freshman Tyree Taylor is following in his father’s and brother’s footsteps as a football and basketball player. He’s playing for the Bulldogs basketball team, under his father’s guidance, who is an assistant coach.

Even with a demanding schedule, Taylor III manages to call his father after most of Suwannee’s games to see how Tyree and the Bulldogs fared.

“I always check up on my brother,” Taylor III said. “We talk after games. I try to be a good role model since I pretty much went though the same thing playing football and basketball.”

Far from home

There were many elements that factored into Taylor’s decision to attend Rider. A change in scenery, a nice campus, a spot on the basketball team and the opportunity to study his desired major were the most important factors in his decision.

Almost 1,000 miles from home, Taylor saw an opportunity to enjoy different experiences in a new place.

“Not a lot of people from Florida can say they did this,” Taylor said. “Being away wasn’t going to make me homesick. I saw it as a chance for new life experiences.”

Taylor frequently visits his hometown in his time off, helping to make a difference in the community.

He was a nominee for the 2016 Allstate NABC Good Works Team for his community service achievements.

Taylor was recognized for mentoring students from Branford Elementary School and Suwannee High school on the importance of staying in school, making good life decisions and the opportunities basketball can provide. He’s worked with kids at basketball clinics and served meals at the Trenton Area Soup Kitchen during the Thanksgiving and Christmas seasons.

Bright future

An opportunity to play professionally, most like overseas, is a possibility for Taylor, but he’s focused on staying in the present.

Taylor is trying to help his team win the MAAC and advance to the NCAA Tournament for the fourth time in school history. The Broncs’ last NCAA Tournament appearance was in 1994.

Taylor said he will focus on the next step in his basketball career when the time comes.

Whether it’s professional basketball or a different career path, the future looks bright for the hard-working Taylor.