Chris Taft: Aircraft Carrier With Skills
Chris Taft, a 6-9, 210-pound forward/center from Xaverian High School in New York, finished his season last Sunday in a loss to Rice High School. It wasn't Taft's fault his team got crushed by 38 points.
Some tremendous perimeter shooting by Rice High School put the lights out early in that seminfinal New York City Catholic League game. Rice would have beaten most high school programs and some college teams that night at Fordham University. Their entire team was that good from the field.
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But Taft is a special talent. He has physical strength, attacks the basket with force and has developed a soft touch around the basket. Taft is being highly recruited. Interestingly enough, there were several high profile programs there to watch Taft and Rice center Shagari Alleyne.
When Taft's game was over last Sunday evening, Chris seeked out Villanova assistant coach Joe Jones in the middle of a crowd. Taft went over and gave Jones a handshake and hug. He then forced a smile after the loss.
Villanova has been working Taft real hard and appear to be in good shape with Chris. But there are several other heavy hitters involved in the process -- Providence, Seton Hall, Virginia, Rutgers, Louisville, St. John's, Duke, North Carolina, Kentucky, Pittsburgh, Arizona, Connecticut, and Syracuse.
Taft has not set up any visits nor has plans right now in doing so. He has not figured out whether he will play AAU ball or not. But it's likely this recruiting race will last into the Fall since so many top level schools would at least want him to take an unofficial or official visit.