TJ Taylor

[BigTime]

How important to him and this team is it to get him back playing as soon as his concussion symptoms clear up and he is medically cleared to play basketball?

I have seen the guy play live in at least a half a dozen basketball games and he is a very talented young man who would have stayed ranked right around Cam Clark had he not injured himself during the his junior AAU summer.

He has a college ready body and is regarded as a physical defender.

I think it is important that he plays this year if he is able...

 

[Krugerfan52]

I have been wondering about this myself. But is he still with the team? Does he travel with them? Has he started practicing at all yet?

I haven't seen him yet. I agree, if he could come back soon it might help, but I dont know if thats a possibility.

One thing to consider is that if he did join the team this year, we would be adding another freshman. Inexperience is one of our main problems right now, so who knows if he would actually help or not.

 

[OULad]

He cant be any worse than we are firing out there at PG.

 

[Sawyer]

That's why I would've been against a redshirt if I were an OU fan, and why redshirting in general is extremely rare in college basketball (although MU appears to be redshirting a freshman this year, as well).

If a guy can play well enough to help the team, he needs to play. If he can't, you're probably wasting a scholarship anyway and it'd be better to get a new player in four rather than five. It's rare when a guy can't help the team at all as a freshman but will be a valuable contributor as a fifth year senior (at least at the Big 12 level.... it would make a lot more sense for teams in small conferences, I guess).

 

[Edmond_Sooner]

I know the kid wants to play, but i think he needs to go ahead and redshirt...

the only reason i see him playing is if Capel feels so much pressure he pulls the redshirt...

At this point i'm more concerned with this programs future, and if Taylor is as solid as you say then he needs to redshirt and give us some depth for the next 4 yrs...to that point tho, if Capel thought he was that solid i dont think he would have him redshirt...he would play him once he recovered...so if he indeed has been proclaimed a redshirt, i think that tells us he isnt any better than what is out there right now...

 

[MercedeSooner]

I know the kid wants to play, but i think he needs to go ahead and redshirt...

the only reason i see him playing is if Capel feels so much pressure he pulls the redshirt...

At this point i'm more concerned with this programs future, and if Taylor is as solid as you say then he needs to redshirt and give us some depth for the next 4 yrs...to that point tho, if Capel thought he was that solid i dont think he would have him redshirt...he would play him once he recovered...so if he indeed has been proclaimed a redshirt, i think that tells us he isnt any better than what is out there right now...

These are my thoughts... I had high hopes for TJ based on his game and what looked to be a college ready body, moreso then Cam. But seeing how bad this team is and TJ being redshirted because of a concussion probably means he's not anywhere as ready as we thought he would be.

 

[red recluse]

if and when he's medically cleared to play, but can't help this team, then we are in a bigger world of **** than i ever imagined. but 2 months in and we have no semblance of a consistent lineup. i don't have a lot of trust in what capel is seeing in practice. if the kid is able to play, and can hit free throws, he needs to be out there. we need every piece available going into conference season. all of us are worried about the direction of the program, but i don't care about depth in 2015 right now. i care about making the most out of this season by having as much experience as possible going into 2012.

i don't know if he has a chance at a medical redshirt. but if tj is evaluating his future, it might be best to play this year. because if capel gets fired and he decides to transfer, being able to redshirt during that transfer year would be huge for him.

 

[Dem Coltz]

I'd just like to know what the heck is going on medically. I've heard he had an ankle injury and a concussion. Umm, ankle injuries that don't require surgery don't last long enough to redshirt anyone, and players return from most run of the mill sports concussions within 10 days tops. Even if he had both at the same time, not playing would recuperate both, it isn't like his ankle couldn't heal until his post-concussion symptoms healed or vice-versa. So either the ankle injury was severe enough to warrant surgery, or he had a severe concussion and needs some type of neuro-surgery. My question is how much info are we owed about players on scholarship? Also, when is the last time anyone has actually seen the guy on campus?

 

[StoopsBros]

I'd just like to know what the heck is going on medically. I've heard he had an ankle injury and a concussion. Umm, ankle injuries that don't require surgery don't last long enough to redshirt anyone, and players return from most run of the mill sports concussions within 10 days tops. Even if he had both at the same time, not playing would recuperate both, it isn't like his ankle couldn't heal until his post-concussion symptoms healed or vice-versa. So either the ankle injury was severe enough to warrant surgery, or he had a severe concussion and needs some type of neuro-surgery. My question is how much info are we owed about players on scholarship? Also, when is the last time anyone has actually seen the guy on campus?

This.

 

[blankenship4]

does TJ have a brother named zing?

 

[BoulderSooner]

if he can be cleared by christmas break .. he should start practicing and play the second semester ..

 

[BigTime]

My theory is that the staff told TJ to go ahead and redshirt so that he could recover fully without feeling the pressure of coming back too early.

I spoke with TJ yesterday and he told me that he is STILL having symptoms.

I agree with Boulder that we should hope that he is medically cleared by Christmas break so that we can get him ready to play around the conference season.

 

[DenverSooner]

It seems strange that he is still injured. I completely agree, OU needs this kid now not next year. He was a top 100 recruit. He is a guy that can score points. Plus getting experience this year will make him better next year. If nothing more his availability gives us something to be happy about.

 

[OUsky]

I completely agree, OU needs this kid now not next year. He was a top 100 recruit. He is a guy that can score points. Plus getting experience this year will make him better next year. If nothing more his availability gives us something to be happy about.

Redshirt... 4 years with coaching.

 

[red recluse]

if he's still having symptoms, he's done for this year.