Men’s Basketball Coach Ryan Cherepkai is pleased to announce that Taylor Florence is the newest member of the Lindenwood University Lions family.

Florence, a 5-9 point guard from Columbia Hickman High School (Columbia, MO) had a banner career for the Kewpies, and is destined to fill a major role for the Lions.

“With Dantwan Chillers and Ryan Brown being seniors this upcoming season, there will be a major need for a true point guard that can lead our team for the future and we’ve found that player in Taylor Florence.”—Cherepkai

A three year starter for Hickman, Florence averaged 17.4 points per game along with 3 assists and 3 steals in his senior season. Hickman’s scoring leader for three consecutive seasons, Florence scored 999 career points and scored a career high of 32 points against traditional high school power Quincy Senior High (IL) this past season.

For his efforts, Florence was named to the All-District team two times, named to the All-Area team two times, and named team Most Valuable Player.

Cherepkai became aware of Florence’s unique ability to run a team through watching him play numerous games with his AAU program, Team Missouri.

“I first noticed Taylor’s toughness and leadership abilities at the Jayhawk Invitational at Phog Allen Fieldhouse last Spring. He played every minute of every game for Coach Jim Donnelly and never once did his intensity let up.”

“Taylor gives us a dimension that we haven’t had at Lindenwood University since I have been here, a jet point guard that can really push the ball and find people and pressure the ball defensively. With the players we have on the wings and in the post, Taylor will be an instant impact with his ability to penetrate and find openings, as well as his ability to score the basketball.”—Cherepkai

Florence will be part of an excellent freshman class that Cherepkai says can have the same type of impact that the current group of seniors had when they were freshman four years ago.

“We have great depth in our upperclassmen, but to continue upon our successes from last season, we have to build for the future as well. We have the point guard (Florence), the athletic wing/post (6-6 Cliff Westendorf of Dieterich, IL) and the versatile big man (6-8 Steven Jeffers of Terre Haute, IN) to build a contender for the next four seasons.”--Cherepkai