Three-star 2005 prospect Jermaine Taylor has had some ebbs and flows with his recruitment due to academic problems. But the Tavaras (Fla.) High School standout recently earned a qualifying test score.

Before his recruitment ever fully heated up, the 6-foot-4, 185-pound shooting guard showed his loyalty by making an unexpected commitment to one of the schools that stood by him during the process, pledging to Central Florida.

"He's got to be the greatest recruiting in the history of Central Florida," said Kenny Gillion of the Team Breakdown AAU club about Taylor's commitment. "Central Florida his right in his backyard. They have been recruiting him the hardest and the longest, since his junior year."

Central Florida is coming off a second straight Atlantic Sun Conference tournament title and will make a jump to Conference USA next season. Taylor is the type of recruit to lead them in making the leap.

The Golden Knights did have to fend off other schools who started to pursue Taylor once he achieved a qualifying test score in January.

"A lot of schools where on him during the summer," Gillion said. "But when he hadn't qualified people came off him. Penn State and Texas A&M stayed with him like Central Florida. It basically came down to those three. Schools like Houston, Boston College and Auburn tried to get in late."

An explosive athlete, Taylor averaged 25 points, 11 rebounds and 5 assists this season.