Hello and welcome back to Let's Talk Choctaws with Meeby and Kienna! This week we had the pleasure of sitting down with Jacob Taylor, a junior basketball player from Bardstown, Kentucky.

We've been able to watch Jacob play through the years, so it was nice to finally have the opportunity to chat and get to know him a little better. Last year, Jacob started in 25 games and averaged 7.2 points and 4.2 rebounds per game. He also finished 2nd on the team with 44 assists and led the squad with 29 steals. Jacob scored in double-figures in seven contests, including a season-high 20 in a win over Shorter. Needless to say, he's been an invaluable asset to the Choctaws.

This year, Jacob has been enjoying spending more time at his own place this semester, hanging out with his teammates, and trying to stay within the athletics bubble. He lives off campus, and is usually running back and forth from his classes to the court. Jacob is a general business administration major and is planning to also get a masters in business. His mentor, Dr. Odom, is an adjunct professor on campus that he has also been able to connect with off campus. He is the main reason why Jacob started going to First Baptist Byram, his church home here at MC where he has found a great community.

This past week was the team's first 20 hour practice week of the semester. Prior to that, the athletes would get eight hours per week to workout with their coaches and trainers. The team tests for Covid-19 three times per week. Basketball practice looks different this year with social distancing, masks, higher levels of sanitization, and only eight people allowed in the locker room at a time. The major set back they have faced this semester is quarantining. They have had to quarantine three times, which adds up to 6 weeks without training or moving from their living spaces. Jacob tested positive for Covid-19 earlier in the semester and was out for 14 days. "When I came back, I felt like I couldn't even walk and chew gum because I hadn't done anything for two weeks," said Jacob. When teams miss a few days of practice it can set their progress back, but this semester they are having to miss weeks at a time. They are hoping to still begin their season in December. The team is trying their best to stay safe and stay within their group of people on the team, and not put themselves in situations where they could be at risk of catching the virus. " I think living off campus has been the greatest blessing this year, to be able to distance from other people," said Jacob.

Jacob's favorite part about being on the team is the automatic connection he has with his teammates. "You don't necessarily have to go out and join a service club or anything. You can be with someone and know them and end up calling them your brother because of sports, and because of what we do on a day-to-day basis," he said. "I think that's cool, and it teaches you more about life than I realize." Jacob said that he has found that working hard in practice and dedicating himself to being successful in sports has transferred over to other aspects of his life, as well. He says he's changed a lot as a person since his freshman year- "I used to want to start fights with guys who were 50 or 60 pounds heavier than me," he laughed, "I was immature. It's cool to laugh about all these freshman year memories, but it's also cool to see how much I've grown as an individual." he said.

He also has great memories of being with his teammates over the years. Jacob enjoys being able to hang out with his teammates while on the road at away games. "You always have a good time with the team, playing video games and watching film," he said. "I enjoy the whole process." The team also has several international players. "When they get mad, they stop speaking English," Jacob said, "eventually, I said hey, I need to learn some words. So I've learned a few words and next thing you know I'm saying it to them and it gets a big laugh."

Like many other athletes, Jacob has been involved in basketball ever since he could walk. His dad was a coach for 20 years for a high school back in his home state of Kentucky. He grew up around the sport, and he said that he really enjoyed both the athletic environment as well as the people. In high school, Jacob played on an AAU team that was part of the Adidas Gauntlet, where all the sponsored Adidas teams played. Jacob wasn't immediately getting offers from colleges like some of his peers were. "That was the one time I said, God, I'm done worrying about it," he said. He told us that when he came to visit Mississippi College, the coach at the time told him that they'd watched his highlight tape and wanted to offer him a full scholarship. "At that point, I felt that God was obviously speaking to me," he said, "and on the way home, twenty minutes into a nine hour drive, I called MC and told them that I was going to commit."

Although the dates for this season's basketball games have not been set yet, we look forward to seeing Jacob back out on the court soon.

Thank you for reading! It has been a great semester being able to interview so many talented athletes and coaches. We appreciate everyone who has read along with us, and we're excited to continue to bring you great Choctaws Athletics content in the coming semester. Study hard, and have a great winter holiday!

Meeby & Kienna