Jackson graduate Taylor Mikesell: Three things to know about Ohio State star

George M. Thomas, Akron Beacon Journal
·2 min read
March 25, 2023; Seattle, WA, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes guard Taylor Mikesell (24) is guarded by UConn Huskies guard Nika Muhl (10) during the first half of an NCAA Tournament Sweet Sixteen game at Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle on Saturday. Mandatory Credit: Barbara J. Perenic/Columbus Dispatch
March 25, 2023; Seattle, WA, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes guard Taylor Mikesell (24) is guarded by UConn Huskies guard Nika Muhl (10) during the first half of an NCAA Tournament Sweet Sixteen game at Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle on Saturday. Mandatory Credit: Barbara J. Perenic/Columbus Dispatch
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A constant for the Ohio State Buckeyes women’s basketball team has been Massillon native and former Jackson High School standout Taylor Mikesell.

With the Buckeyes earning a spot in the NCAA Tournament Elite Eight for the first time since 1993, her prowess on the court will be counted on.

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While her proficiency on the offensive side of the ball is well documented, Mikesell, 5-foot-11, earned praise this past weekend in the Buckeyes’ 73-61 win over the second-seeded Connecticut Huskies Saturday for not filling up the basket, but plowing through the game in pain.

After being hindered in the first half and held scoreless, she did overcome the pain to add nine points in the winning effort. The Buckeyes will take on No. 1 seed Virginia Tech tonight at 9.

Here are three things to know about Mikesell

March 25, 2023; Seattle, WA, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes guard Taylor Mikesell (24) takes a shot while guarded by UConn Huskies forward Aubrey Griffin (44) during the second half of an NCAA Tournament Sweet Sixteen game at Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle on Saturday. Ohio State won the game 73-61.Mandatory Credit: Barbara J. Perenic/Columbus Dispatch
March 25, 2023; Seattle, WA, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes guard Taylor Mikesell (24) takes a shot while guarded by UConn Huskies forward Aubrey Griffin (44) during the second half of an NCAA Tournament Sweet Sixteen game at Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle on Saturday. Ohio State won the game 73-61.Mandatory Credit: Barbara J. Perenic/Columbus Dispatch

Ohio State women's basketball standout Taylor Mikesell is a 3-point ace

She leads the Buckeyes in 3-point shooting percentage with 40.52% made from the arc, which is good enough to rank in the Top 50 in the country (No. 31). For the season, she’s connected on 109-of-269 3-pointers. She leads the Buckeyes in scoring with 17 points per game.

Taylor Mikesell didn't begin her career at Ohio State after playing at Jackson High School

She may be close to home now, but Mikesell didn’t start her collegiate career with the Buckeyes. She spent two seasons with Big Ten competitor Maryland before transferring to the Oregon Ducks where she spent a season. She eventually found her way home to Ohio.

“My end goal was always to make it to the WNBA, and I think leaving Oregon was trying to put myself in a better position to do that more than anything, and then just be able to play my game, I think a little freer, which is what was appealing to coach Kevin McGuff and Ohio State,” Mikesell told Eleven Warriors recently.

Taylor Mikesell may be close to reaching her WNBA goal

One mock draft projects that the Indiana Fever will take Mikesell with the seventh overall pick, the team’s second in the first round. ESPN doesn't have her going in the first round of the draft.

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Taylor Mikesell has a WNBA future after starring for Ohio State