Incoming Terp Freshman Dara Taylor Attends Point Guard College
7/2/2009 8:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
July 2, 2009
COLLEGE PARK, Md. - Incoming University of Maryland women's basketball player Dara Taylor, from Wilmington, Del., recently attended Point Guard College at Shippensburg (Pa.) University from June 23-27 in effort to better improve her game as she anticipates her freshman campaign of collegiate basketball this fall.
Taylor attended one of the three courses offered by Point Guard College, entitled "Think the Game." Instructors taught mental approaches to areas such as becoming a playmaker, making the right reads on penetration, beating pressure with poise, defensive "pestitude," shot selection, leadership and communication and many more intangibles of the position.
"Point Guard College was a great experience," Taylor said. "The camp gave me an opportunity to expand my game and really step outside my comfort zone throughout the week. I came into camp as a shy player and left being able to lead a whole gym of athletes comfortably. The classroom sessions taught me the tools to become a better leader and point guard and the court sessions allowed me to practice the tools I had just learned. PGC helped me physically because it showed me the moves I'm going to need to make to be successful as I head to the next level of basketball.
"Overall PGC was just a really helpful and educational experience."
Former Terrapin point guard Kristi Toliver, Maryland's all-time leader in assists in 3-point field goals, is a former student at Point Guard College. The course is offered all over the country and includes "Essentials" and "Advanced Concepts" as other courses offered.
"We were already very excited about Dara and it is great to know that a terrific place like the Point Guard College shares our opinion," Maryland head coach Brenda Frese said. "They really had some nice things to say about her. It was Dara's idea to attend and, as a coach, it is a dream to have a player who is self-motivated to get better in every way possible as she's already showing her leadership. What's especially unique about Point Guard College is that it hits players from a different angle - working on how they think the game and their leadership skills.
"We already had a great experience with Kristi Toliver attending the PGC and now I think we're two-for-two in that department."
Taylor was named a McDonald's High School All-American as a senior last season at Caravel Academy and will compete for the vacant starting point guard position following Toliver's graduation from Maryland.
Toliver, whose 751 career assists ranks second in Atlantic Coast Conference history, is now playing professionally for the WNBA's Chicago Sky.
