Romar Bolsters Guard Slot With Two Recruits

University of Washington basketball coach Lorenzo Romar Wednesday announced that high school senior Jahmel Taylor and junior college transfer Mike Anderson have signed letters of intent and will join the program this fall.

Taylor, a 5-foot-11 guard from Pacific Hills High in West Hollywood, CA, and Anderson, a 6-foot-5 guard from Moberly Area Community College in Missouri, will join an incoming class that includes McDonald’s All-America Nigel Williams-Goss and Darin Johnson. Perris Blackwell and Gilles Dierickx will also join the Huskies next year after transferring last year and sitting out.

“Taylor is a really feisty winner,” Romar said. “He was a 4-A state player of the year and his team won a state title. He’s a dedicated player, a real good character kid. Anderson plays multiple positions on the perimeter, is a good ball handler, a good penetrator, a dedicated player and good rebounder from the guard position.”

Taylor will join the Huskies after helping lead Pacific Hills to a 29-4 record and the 2013 California State Division IV championship. He scored 14 points in a 58-52 win over Cardinal Newman in the championship game.

Taylor averaged 22.7 points, 6.2 rebounds, 4.7 assists and 2.3 steals per game and was the Division 4A All CIF-Southern Section player of the year. He was also named to the MaxPreps Calfiornia Boys Basketball Division IV All-State first team.

“Taylor impacts the final score of the game with a lot of toughness,” Romar said. “He is also a great shooter.”

Taylor spent 2012 and 2011 at Sierra Canyon High in Chatsworth, CA., and averaged 20.8 as a junior and 21.1 ppg as a sophomore. He was the 2011 CIF Division 5A MVP and was named to the All-CIF Southern Section Division 5A team.

Taylor will play in the inaugural West Coast All-Star Classic May 11 at the ShoWare Center in Kent.. Romar compared him favorably in style of play to former Husky Justin Dentmon.

Anderson was the No. 46-ranked JC player according to jucorecruiting.com. He averaged 17.2 points, 10.0 rebounds and 1.5 assists, while shooting 83.1% from the line, 52.6% from the field and 41.7% from the 3-point line in 33 games during the 2013 season for Moberly.

Anderson helped Moberly to the Region 16 title game, where he scored 29 points and grabbed 14 rebounds in a 77-70 loss to Mineral Area College. During the season, he had 10-plus rebounds 24 times and had a season-high 31 points. He was named to the NJCAA All-Region 16 team.

“He’s a a multi-dimensional guard,” Romar said. “He has extremely long arms and is a really good rebounder. He is the type of player that has his hand in a lot of different areas of the game. He’s pretty good at everything.”

Anderson attended Weaver High in Hartford, CT., and prep school at Taag Academy in Tampa, FL. Before attending Moberly, he redshirted a season at Iowa Western CC and transferred to Lincoln Trail College in Illinois.

“These guys are winners and passionate about the game,” Romar said of his two latest recruits.

The Huskies were in need of guards after losing Abdul Gaddy and Scott Suggs to graduation, and also because of C.J. Wilcox’s uncertain status. Wilcox, Washington’s Most Valuable Player this past season, has until April 28 to decide to submit his name for the NBA Draft. Romar said Wednesday he doesn’t know which way Wilcox is leaning.

“C.J. has an unbelievable support system,” Romar said. “Whether he goes or stays, this has been thought-out. I have every confidence that he’s going to make the right decision.”