Why Tyshawn Taylor wants to put together a Kansas-led team for The Basketball Tournament

LAWRENCE — Tyshawn Taylor has participated in The Basketball Tournament before, and this year he has aims of doing so again with a squad driven by former Kansas Jayhawks like himself.

Taylor, who spent four seasons in college at Kansas from 2008-12 and played in a Final Four, drew inspiration from watching Brian Hanni put together the Rock Chalk Roundball Classic charity event. He thought about how, the last time there was a team assembled for the tournament like he’s trying to this year, he felt like the team could have made a better run if it had been organized more effectively. So, he started to make his push to have the Jayhawks be represented in the 64-team field that’ll be competing for a $1 million pay-out.

And as Taylor explained his thought process Wednesday, it’s clear what’s driving him. Sure, there’s an opportunity to make money. But he’ll also have another chance to play with a group of athletes who went to Kansas just like he did, and have that shared experience.

“For me, I’m done playing basketball,” said Taylor, who was selected in the 2012 NBA draft and has also played professionally overseas. “So, I’m not looking for an overseas contract or anything like that. For me, I don’t even care if — I care if we win, because that’s why I’m putting it together. I want to win. Again, I’m talking about being competitive. But, yeah, I’m not going out there trying to like drop 30 and hope I get signed from this. Like, I don’t want nobody on my team like that. I’ve played in this, to know that the best — the people who buy in to trying to win the game go the furthest in this tournament and win the money.”

Taylor is still going through the process of putting together the team, ahead of a Wednesday deadline to apply. He’ll need to have at least seven players, and so far said he has about four or five and a coach. He noted that among those committed, outside of himself, are Cliff Alexander and Mario Little.

The potential exists, Taylor mused, that Malik Newman, Devon Dotson, Dedric Lawson, Frank Mason III and Wayne Selden Jr. could all join him. Considering he’ll be around the former Jayhawks this week because of the festivities that go along with Hanni’s charity event, and those players are set to be in town, in a way it can also serve as a recruiting event. But participating would also have to fit with their schedules, and desires for how they’re looking to spend their summers.

Taylor added that he’s still looking to add a wing, and brought up a talent like Marcus Garrett while doing so. And Taylor mentioned Thomas Robinson, too. Taylor thinks he can convince Robinson, a former teammate of his, to be a part of it.

“It’s basketball; I love basketball,” said Taylor, explaining what he enjoys about The Basketball Tournament. “It’s an opportunity to play and compete … That’s the whole thing. It’s the summer time, and we’re playing basketball. So, it’s like, what else are we doing as basketball players? That’s what we do. And so, they’re giving us an opportunity to play and showcase our talent on TV and make some money while doing it. It’s a no-brainer for me, for somebody who loves to play basketball and loves to compete.”

Taylor continued: “To be honest, I don’t know why a lot of guys stand down from the opportunity to make money in the summer. But I also don’t understand why guys just don’t like to play pickup in the summer. Like a lot of guys just like to train and work out, and I kind of get it. But I don’t know, I’m different. I like to play. I grew up and I made my bones in the parks and the playgrounds with the older guys. And that’s how I sharpened my tools.”

Taylor feels each year he’s been a part of The Basketball Tournament there have been moments that have stuck with him. Each year, he said, there are players who separate themselves from the rest. Simply put, he said it’s fun to watch.

Jordan Guskey covers University of Kansas Athletics at The Topeka Capital-Journal. Contact him at jmguskey@gannett.com or on Twitter at @JordanGuskey.

This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Ex-KU Jayhawk Tyshawn Taylor building Kansas-led team for 2022 TBT