Marshall transfer Andrew Taylor commits to Mississippi State

Former Corbin (Ky.) High star Andrew Taylor has a new college basketball home in the SEC, but it won’t be at Kentucky.

The Sun Belt transfer ended his quick transfer recruitment on Saturday night when the guard committed to Mississippi State, according to Jon Rothstein.

Marshall transfer Andrew Taylor tells me that he has committed to Mississippi State.

— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) May 14, 2023

Andrew Taylor was a class of 2018 signee who chose Marshall over Appalachian State, Furman, Kent State, Rice, and others. Taylor was a four-year starter for head coach Dan D’Antoni after taking a redshirt season in his first year on campus. Taylor earned first-team All-Sun Belt honors in 2022-23 after averaging 20.2 points, 4.7 rebounds, 4.7 assists, and 2.1 steals in 36.6 minutes per outing for the Thundering Herd. The super senior is a career 35.5 percent three-point shooter.

On Thursday, Rothstein reported that Kentucky had reached out to the in-state native. Taylor also heard from Auburn, Florida, Indiana, LSU, Louisville, Memphis, Michigan, Xavier, and a few others. The high-scoring perimeter player entered the transfer portal on May 8 and has found a power conference home less than a week later.

In his first year at Mississippi State, new head coach Chris Jans took the Bulldogs to the NCAA Tournament bowing out in the First Four after a one-point loss to Pittsburgh. Jans’ first squad in Starkville had an outstanding defense, but struggled to put the ball in the hoop. Mississippi State will be depending on Taylor to provide a needed scoring punch in Starkville.

John Calipari and his Kentucky coaching staff are still weighing their options as Chris Livingston, Antonio Reeves, and Oscar Tshiebwe all go through the draft process. The Wildcats could be close to landing their first transfer of the season after San Diego State forward Keshad Johnson locked in a commitment date following an official visit to Kentucky.

Recruiting never stops.