Taylor Koenen To Follow In Her Favorite Player's Footsteps
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- For a very long time, many young basketball players have had a dream: Be like Mike.
For a Minnesota senior, that dream will soon come true...in a way.
Sit with Shakopee's Taylor Koenen and she is reflective of her love for basketball.
"It all started when I was really young, growing up going to my dad's recreational games, just shooting in the front yard. Even when I was young we had the mini-basket in our basement and I would shoot on that," said Koenen.
She has been the toast of the state this season in girls basketball.
A 6-foot-2-inch point guard whose team did everything this season but make the state tournament.
"We started the season off 18-0, and then to go undefeated in the south suburban conference, that's awesome, that hasn't been done," said Koenen. "And then we were ranked number one in the state for a couple weeks, which that's never been done in school history either, so it's been a great, great year."
She had options. Koenen played tennis and was an all-conference pitcher for the softball team.
"I really like softball. Growing up it was always softball and tennis," Koenen said. "I never really thought about college, just because I started so young with recruitment in basketball, and I always liked basketball the best."
Next year, Koenen will take her hoops career to North Carolina to be a Tar Heel.
"I went out to their elite camp in the summer of my junior year. That went really well, played scrimmage, and then they offered me a scholarship afterwards," said Koenen. "Then I went home, thought about with my parents and made my decision on that."
There is a connection there. Koenen's favorite player is a former Tar Heel named Michael Jordan.
"Where we play is where Michael Jordan played, because the boys have a separate Dean dome," said Koenen. "They still have the door from when he was there, so every time we walk through the locker room door it's like I'm walking through where Michael Jordan was."
Before Koenen leaves she will graduate this spring. She is committed to academics like she is athletics.
"Growing up, playing sports year-round, tennis, softball, basketball, you learn really good time management, so that's helped me a lot," Koenen said. "I've always wanted to succeed in the classroom. It's just like in sports, I'm competitive with myself to get the best grades that I can."
Koenen will say goodbye with wonderful memories.
"There's a lot to remember," said Koenen. "All the great people that I've met, my coaches, all my friends, the teachers. There's a lot of great people that I've met and have supported me through the years."
