Albuquerque Journal

Lobo Recruits Getting the Itch
By Ken Sickenger, Journal Staff Writer

Lauren Taylor says she absolutely, positively can't wait to tip off her career with the University of New Mexico women's basketball team.
   
There's just one problem.
   
The 5-foot-11 guard from Brownsburg, Ind., isn't quite ready for her prep career to end.
   
Taylor, one of two signed recruits set to join the Lobos in 2008-09, averaged 19.9 points and 6.2 rebounds per game for Brownsburg High. The other, 6-foot guard Sara Halasz, averaged 20.5 points, 9.5 rebounds and 3.6 steals per contest at Washington's Lakes High School.
   
Both players say they're eager to relocate to Albuquerque and will start summer school in early June. Taylor is already reorganizing her room.
   
"I wish I was leaving tomorrow," she said in a phone interview.
   
Taylor, however, threw something of a monkey wrench into her travel plans by earning a spot on the exclusive Indianapolis Star Indiana High School All-Star Team. She's one of 13 players to make the squad, which is scheduled to play a two-game series against Kentucky's All-Stars this summer.
   
"It's quite an honor," Taylor said of her all-star selection. "It's been one of my goals throughout my high school career. I hope I can play."
   
Taylor beat the odds to make the Indiana team. The go-to scorer for freshman-laden Brownsburg (10-11), Taylor was consistently double- or triple-teamed. All the same, she was invited to top-60 workouts, effectively an all-star tryout with 59 of her state's other top players, and stood out enough to make the roster.
   
Her dilemma now is timing. UNM summer school begins in early June, which conflicts with the Indiana-Kentucky all-star series. The teams are scheduled to practice for a week before playing June 13 in Indianapolis and June 15 in Louisville.
   
Lobo coach Don Flanagan knows the all-star series is "a big deal." He's confident some accommodation can be made to allow Taylor to play and attend summer school.
   
"She's a very smart player," Flanagan said. "She skipped (first grade) and already has like 32 hours of college credit. I don't think grades will be a problem for her."
   
Taylor also is a trained emergency medical technician, who has been doing ride-outs with Brownsburg Fire Department personnel this semester. She'll take her practical exam in the next few weeks.
   
"I'm not allowed to talk about specific details," she said of the ride-outs, "but, yeah, I've seen some wild things."
   
Her EMT training came in handy during top-60 workouts when another player hit her head on the floor and suffered a deep gash. Taylor helped control the bleeding until paramedics arrived.
   
"I've always wanted to be able to help people," she said. "Now I can."
   
Taylor figures to help the Lobos at two-guard. She's an outstanding perimeter shooter with solid fundamentals, who should transition easily to Division I basketball, Flanagan said.
   
Halasz also figures to make a quick adjustment at UNM. Though her scoring numbers were similar, Halasz handled the ball more than Taylor and often picked up points in transition. She projects as a two- or three-guard, Flanagan said.
   
Halasz was an Associated Press All-State first-team player for Class 3A (Washington's second-largest classification), All-Area first team for Seattle-Tacoma and twice was named Western Cascade League Player of the Year.
   
The awards rolled in after Halasz led Lakes to a 24-2 record and a best-ever fourth-place finish at Washington's state tournament.
   
"It was pretty exciting," Halasz said. "Our school hadn't gotten a trophy at state since they finished fifth in 1993."
   
Halasz, who comes from a military family, said she's been working on fine-tuning her shooting. She works out with— and sometimes against— soldiers at a nearby military post.
   
"Sometimes I take some of the girls from my team with me," Halasz said, "and we go whip up on the guys."
   
Taylor and Halasz said they watched UNM games this season, including its one-point NCAA Tournament loss to West Virginia. Halasz also called and texted Lobo sophomore Amy Beggin several times to keep up.
   
"I thought New Mexico really improved during the season," Halasz said. "It's a strong team. I really can't wait to get out there and be part of it."