Ohio State picked up a key transfer in star guard Celeste Taylor on Friday, who announced her move via social media. Here’s what you need to know:
- Taylor led Duke in scoring with 11.4 points per game and added 2.5 assists and 4.8 rebounds per contest.
- The 2022-23 ACC Defensive Player of the Year was also named to the All-ACC team and led Duke to a 26-7 season, its most wins since 2016-17.
- Ohio State went 28-8 in 2022-23, making the Elite Eight for the first time since 1993.
Hey Buckeye Nation ❤️🤍 pic.twitter.com/ov4XGuKs48
— Celeste Taylor (@_celeste620) April 20, 2023
The Athletic’s instant analysis:
How much did Taylor mean to Duke?
Duke loses its best player from the last two seasons, a national Defensive Player of the Year award finalist who handled a high usage on the offensive end of the floor. Taylor was an indispensable part of the Blue Devils’ full-court pressure with her relentless activity and anticipation in the passing lanes, helping Duke to the second-best defense in the country. She led the program back to the tournament for the first time since 2018.
After posting 15 points and hitting a game-tying jumper in Texas’ upset of Maryland in the 2021 NCAA Tournament, Taylor was Kara Lawson’s first big get as a transfer, a sign of what was to come as…
