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TARAN BUIE: COACHES CALLING EARLY, OFTEN

2010 Upstate NY prospect is among highest recruited in class

June 15th represented the first day college coaches could call prospects of the class of 2010. Since that day, the phone of Taran Buie has been ringing constantly.

Buie, a 6-foot guard out of Bishop Maginn High School in Albany (NY) and standout for the City Rocks AAU program, is a name that has not generated a lot of attention nationally in the media to date. However, judging by the coaches that have reached out to him the first chance they were allowed to, college coaches are VERY aware of his talents.

“This week I’ve talked to Boston College, Notre Dame, Clemson, Rutgers, Cincinnati, Penn State, Miami, Pittsburgh, Virginia Tech, Virginia, Georgia Tech, Syracuse, Florida, Xavier, West Virginia, Marquette, and Maryland,” Taran Buie relayed to the NBE Basketball Report, doing the best he could to recall all of the coaches that have placed calls to him this week.

According to his high school coach, Rich Hurley, scholarship offers have already been extended by “Maryland, Penn State, Rutgers, Syracuse, Georgia Tech, Boston College, Virginia Tech, Miami, and Fordham.”

The interest in Buie’s talents are justified. As a sophomore Taran starred on the biggest stage, helping coach Rich Hurley’s Bishop Maginn squad to a NYSPHSAA Class AA state championship. A defining moment in his young career came in the semifinal victory over powerful Mount Vernon, featuring West Virginia 2008 commit Kevin Jones and highly recruited 2009 G/F Sherrod Wright. Buie scored 16 of his game-high 20 points in a second-half rally as Maginn stunned the defending state champions 54-52. Taran’s clutch baskets late in the game showed a poise well beyond his sophomore age.

“That Mt Vernon game was a great to be of part of,” recalled coach Hurley. “We lost to them last year by three points in the state final, so it was definitely rewarding this past season.”

Taran capped off his MVP tournament run with a game-high 15 points in a 68-37 championship win over Niagara Falls, as Maginn won their 22nd game in a row and moved to 26-1 on the season. Buie and his teammates would lose in the Federation Tournament, 67-57, to NYC power Lincoln, led by Lance Stephenson and the overpowering interior duo of James Padgett and Justin Greene. Again, Buie acquitted himself well by scoring a team-high 18 points under the bright lights that have been known to wilt younger players previously.

“Taran is a joy to coach,” Hurley remarked. “He is the first guy in practice and the last guy to leave. He has the drive and passion to be a great player.”

Now, Taran is taking his game to a more national level while playing for the City Rocks program out of Albany, led by Jim Hart. In July, Buie and his teammates will be competing in the Peach Jam, AAU Super Showcase and AAU Nationals.

“He is a great kid,” City Rocks Vice President Carmen Maciariello stated. “Respectful and hardworking. His personality is a big attribute. He makes a difference on the floor not only in the scoring column but in the hustle categories as well. Deflections, loose balls, charges, rotations etc.,” Maciariello, a former standout at Siena college, said in describing Taran’s impact on the floor.

Maciariello continued to note how well-rounded Buie is off the court, too. “He is a no-brainer for the high majors because he gets it done in the classroom as well!” It was a sentiment echoed by coach Hurley as well, “Taran carries a B+ average in the classroom and his involved in many school activities aside from basketball.”

Taran also has his own travel itinerary as well. “I will be attending the Rutgers elite 24 camp. Flordia’s elite camp is a maybe right now and I was planning on going to the Texas elite camp but can’t due to the timing,” Buie noted.

Taran has been to Maryland, as well as Penn State where his brother, Talor Battle just completed his freshman season for the Nittany Lions, averaging 10 points a game and a team high 3.2 assists for the Big 10 club. Buie hopes to get a chance to see other schools when the hectic AAU schedule winds down in August.

In between all the travel, Taran will work on his game, especially making the transition from more of a scoring guard to that of a point guard. “The thing I plan on working on the most is the transition from the ‘two’ to the point guard spot, alot of ball-handling drills and work… and just getting up at least 300 shots a day,” Buie answered when asked what he plans to improve upon the most this summer.

“The strengths of his game at this time, are his mid-range jump shot and is ability to get to the basket,” coach Hurley explained to the NBE Basketball Report. “He also, is a phenomenal defensive player both on and off the ball.”

You might have not of heard too much of Taran Buie to this point, but that is likely to change as he continues to work at improving his game and the college coaches continue to show a tremendous amount of interest in his blossoming game.

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