
Courtesy Photo of Euler
The men’s basketball team features almost an entirely different roster from last year’s team, but one name remains constant – Taylor Euler. The junior communications major and guard has distinguished himself as a team leader.
“Taylor, at times, is another coach on the floor,” said Shaun Vandiver, head coach. “He has great feel, great understanding of the game. When get out of sorts, he’s calm…he’s a natural coach himself. He has natural leadership abilities.”
Euler began playing basketball at an early age along with football and running track. Growing up he looked to former ESU stars such as Wes Book, current assistant coach, as basketball role models.
“He (Book) played when I was in middle school,” Euler said. “Watching him, he had a really good team too, so that always got me excited to get to the high school level and try to accomplish things that he accomplished.”
Euler, a 2009 graduate of Emporia High, averaged 19.5 points and 3.9 assists in his final year. However, his junior year was the final year he was able to play with senior Troy Pierce, a current transfer to the team and former Spartan.
“That’s been really cool,” Euler said of reuniting with Pierce. “We played together growing up, and then we took about three years off from playing with each other. Now that we’re back, I thought it would be a little different, some things would change over the years apart, but nothing’s changed. I think we’re right where we left off from high school.”
Though Euler said nothing has changed, Pierce recognized the improvement in Euler since they last played together.
“We both came up in the same system,” Pierce said. “He brings everything you need for a basketball team… he’s matured a lot over the years since he was in high school, and since high school his game has developed a lot.”
When he first came to ESU, Euler made an immediate impact in starting six games and playing in all 29 his freshman season. His career high of 19 points came during his freshman year against Ottawa, a year in which he scored in the double figures nine times.
Known for his sharp shooting, three times in his career Euler has made four three-point shots in a single game. This season, Euler is shooting over 47 percent from behind the arc and grabbing nearly four rebounds a game for the Hornets. In their game against Bethany, Euler put up 16 points, making three of six from behind the arc in the game.
“(His three point shooting) helps tremendously,” Vandiver said. “Especially when we go small, and he’s on the court with (Chris) Sights and (Derrell) Conner who are able to penetrate and kick it and he’s able to knock down shots. He’s a good counterpart to Derrell Conner.”
The Hornets will need that deep threat as they face Missouri Western at 3:30 p.m. this Saturday in St. Joseph, Mo.
Brandon Schneeberger






























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