Upcoming Event: Men's Basketball at Baylor on October 10, 2025 at 2 p.m. (MST)
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Grand Canyon University Athletics
Photo by: Sebastian Molinar
Taylor joins GCU yearning for NCAA tourney trip
5/28/2024 1:30:00 PM | Men's Basketball, Paul Coro
Former St. John's, Oregon State forward 'fits how we play,' Drew says of new Lope
Glenn Taylor Jr. was watching the College Slam Dunk & 3-Point Championship on ESPN in April when his friend took note of the spirited environment and asked where the event was being held.
"Grand Canyon," Taylor told him.
"I'd love to be there," his friend said.
They were both players in the NCAA transfer portal, but it was Taylor who got the recruiting call two days later from GCU. That led to Taylor, a 6-foot-6 small forward, deciding to transfer from St. John's to GCU for his senior season.
"I feel like this group of guys already has a winning culture set," Taylor said of four of the top six Lopes returning from their NCAA tournament second-round team. "They are winners, especially with the transfers coming in. The coaches are great. The whole way the program is run is built for success."
Taylor has started 59 of 95 career games at St. John's (2023-24) and Oregon State (2021-23). Last season, he made a career-best 42.4% of 3-pointers and averaged 4.4 points, 2.2 rebounds and 0.8 steals in 17.5 minutes per game.
At Oregon State, Taylor averaged 9.3 points, 3.3 rebounds and 0.7 steals over his first two seasons with 45% shooting from the field.
"Glenn is a player who really fits how we play," GCU head coach Bryce Drew said. "He brings a lot of college experience with him and can play a variety of positions It's an exciting day for our program."
Although Taylor is from Las Vegas, he is familiar with Phoenix and GCU from participating in the NCAA Youth Development College Basketball Camp in 2019 and playing his final high school season at AZ Compass Prep in Chandler, where he teamed with Lopes center Duke Brennan.
"It really just felt like it was family-oriented," Taylor said of GCU. "The whole coaching staff stayed consistent with the whole recruitment process, making me a main priority. Coming into my last year, I especially wanted somewhere that I could be able to show my skills with a great group of guys that I saw was fit for winning.
"I feel like the culture that Coach Drew has been putting out the last few years has been a winning culture. It's going to be a big year with the group of guys coming back mixed with the transfers. It was a no-brainer."
Taylor is motivated to play in his first NCAA tournament, which GCU has qualified for in three of the past four seasons under Drew. He was a viewer watching the Lopes' NCAA tournament games this year, enjoying their upset of Saint Mary's and believing they were going to beat Alabama in the second round.
It also helped that Taylor had connections to Lopes assistant coaches Jermaine Kimbrough and Marc Rodgers.
Taylor credits St. John's head coach Rick Pitino with improving his shooting arc to jump from 30.8% to 42.4% 3-point shooting, but said he has more skills to show next season. As a player with defensive pride, Taylor feels like he has found his fit in the Lopes system and Is excited to play in front of the Havocs.
"I left a lot on the table that I didn't get to showcase at St. John's," Taylor said. "The main thing is to come in and play my game with the freedom that I had at Oregon State to be able to playmake, play on the ball, play off the ball and just really get others involved. It's really to be comfortable.
"I'm a do-it-all, very unselfish player. I bring energy and the will to win in every situation. That's my main focus. I just play the right way, honestly. I play to win, and I get people better."
From this offseason's transfer portal, GCU also has added 6-foot-8 forward JaKobe Coles from TCU, 7-foot-1 center Dennis Evans from Louisville and 6-foot-2 guard Makaih Williams from UT Arlington.
"Grand Canyon," Taylor told him.
"I'd love to be there," his friend said.
They were both players in the NCAA transfer portal, but it was Taylor who got the recruiting call two days later from GCU. That led to Taylor, a 6-foot-6 small forward, deciding to transfer from St. John's to GCU for his senior season."I feel like this group of guys already has a winning culture set," Taylor said of four of the top six Lopes returning from their NCAA tournament second-round team. "They are winners, especially with the transfers coming in. The coaches are great. The whole way the program is run is built for success."
Taylor has started 59 of 95 career games at St. John's (2023-24) and Oregon State (2021-23). Last season, he made a career-best 42.4% of 3-pointers and averaged 4.4 points, 2.2 rebounds and 0.8 steals in 17.5 minutes per game.
At Oregon State, Taylor averaged 9.3 points, 3.3 rebounds and 0.7 steals over his first two seasons with 45% shooting from the field.
"Glenn is a player who really fits how we play," GCU head coach Bryce Drew said. "He brings a lot of college experience with him and can play a variety of positions It's an exciting day for our program."
Although Taylor is from Las Vegas, he is familiar with Phoenix and GCU from participating in the NCAA Youth Development College Basketball Camp in 2019 and playing his final high school season at AZ Compass Prep in Chandler, where he teamed with Lopes center Duke Brennan.
"It really just felt like it was family-oriented," Taylor said of GCU. "The whole coaching staff stayed consistent with the whole recruitment process, making me a main priority. Coming into my last year, I especially wanted somewhere that I could be able to show my skills with a great group of guys that I saw was fit for winning.
"I feel like the culture that Coach Drew has been putting out the last few years has been a winning culture. It's going to be a big year with the group of guys coming back mixed with the transfers. It was a no-brainer."
Taylor is motivated to play in his first NCAA tournament, which GCU has qualified for in three of the past four seasons under Drew. He was a viewer watching the Lopes' NCAA tournament games this year, enjoying their upset of Saint Mary's and believing they were going to beat Alabama in the second round.
It also helped that Taylor had connections to Lopes assistant coaches Jermaine Kimbrough and Marc Rodgers.
Taylor credits St. John's head coach Rick Pitino with improving his shooting arc to jump from 30.8% to 42.4% 3-point shooting, but said he has more skills to show next season. As a player with defensive pride, Taylor feels like he has found his fit in the Lopes system and Is excited to play in front of the Havocs.
"I left a lot on the table that I didn't get to showcase at St. John's," Taylor said. "The main thing is to come in and play my game with the freedom that I had at Oregon State to be able to playmake, play on the ball, play off the ball and just really get others involved. It's really to be comfortable.
"I'm a do-it-all, very unselfish player. I bring energy and the will to win in every situation. That's my main focus. I just play the right way, honestly. I play to win, and I get people better."
From this offseason's transfer portal, GCU also has added 6-foot-8 forward JaKobe Coles from TCU, 7-foot-1 center Dennis Evans from Louisville and 6-foot-2 guard Makaih Williams from UT Arlington.
Life is what you make it
— Glenn Taylor (@IsoGlenn1) May 19, 2024
Just stay focused and dedicated
Don't ever let somebody tell you
YOU CANT MAKE IT✨🙏🏾#Commited #Letsgolopes💜🤍 pic.twitter.com/0s2CAAp8nH
Players Mentioned
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/ Men's BasketballMakaih Williams | Media Availability | 9.3.25
Thursday, September 04
Dusty Stromer | Media Availability | 9.3.25
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Kaleb Smith | Media Availability | 9.3.25
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Non-Conference Schedule Release | Men's Basketball
Monday, August 04