Celeste Taylor has become a key double-threat for No. 4 Ohio State going into postseason
When Celeste Taylor committed to Ohio State to play her final season of college basketball, everyone within the Buckeyes program knew the type of defensive talent she would be bring to the lineup.
The reigning Atlantic Coast Conference Defensive Player of the Year and a finalist for Naismith Defensive Player of the Year, Taylor had built one of the best resumes in the country on the defensive side of the ball during her time at Texas and Duke.
Her athleticism and quick hands gave her the ability to disturb passing lanes, leading to steals or forced turnovers. Taylor had defensive instincts that coach Kevin McGuff felt would be a key addition to the Ohio State lineup.
"I grew up learning that if you can play defense," Taylor said, "if you can guard one through five, you’ll be able to play because not a lot of people can do that.”
After attempting to add Taylor to the Buckeyes' roster both out of high school and during her first time in the transfer portal, the third time was the charm for McGuff, as Taylor officially committed to Ohio State in May.
Taylor's defensive impact was on display quickly at Ohio State, as the program's fast-paced style of play fit her abilities. Easily slotting into the press, she helped improve the half-court defense, which allowed the Buckeyes to hold opponents to a Big Ten-best 63.2 points per game.
Averaging a conference-leading 2.2 steals per game and recording a team-high 26 blocks throughout the season, Taylor's efforts were enough to earn co-Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year.
"It's really, really special for her, and she's earned it," McGuff said. "The thing that I'm happy about with her here is that she plays really hard defensively on every possession and she really competes at a high level on that end of the floor."
Defense wasn't the only area the coaching staff was expecting Taylor to make an impact. Assistant coach Jalen Powell, who has known Taylor since she was 12 and training with her father back in New York, had confidence that the fifth-year transfer could fill a big role on the team.
"Her abilities on the court but what she also showcases off the court, especially with us losing (Taylor Mikesell), I think those are good things that we needed," Powell said. "Not necessarily replace, but make sure we still kept up there because T-Mike had that as well. … Was great on the court, was a great shooter for us but also had intangibles and leadership qualities off the court as well."
While Taylor would average more than 10 points per game by the end of the regular season, it was a process for her to become a consistent offensive threat.
The Buckeyes have become known for running a fast-paced game on offense, just like they do on defense. Playing at a quicker speed compared to the other two programs that Taylor was with, the transfer had to put in work to fulfill her role.
"I try to always put my best foot forward, since I got here," Taylor said. "Just making sure that I never expected to have a spot on the team, I came in here and work for that. You never want somebody to be able to say that 'She doesn't work hard enough for that.' I think that's something that I think about a lot."
'They don't really shine light on her offense'
Right before the season, Taylor felt she was playing her best basketball, shooting well and feeling comfortable in the system. That was far from what was on display in the Buckeyes' 83-74 loss to Southern California to start the season on Nov. 6.
Going 1 for 8 from the field and hitting just one 3-pointer in her 7-point effort, Taylor encountered a mental roadblock following the USC game, shaking some of her confidence.
"I think that's also a big thing as a college player and coming to a program where you only have one year," Taylor said. "Just being able to have the confidence in yourself and the work that you put in to knowing that it's going to pay off at some point."
Taylor started to come into her own once the calendar flipped to December. Putting up 15 points against a ranked Tennessee team, Taylor made a splash in Ohio State's victory over Penn State on Dec. 10 with a big step-back 3-pointer in the final minute of the fourth quarter before overtime.
It was at that moment Taylor feels people started paying more attention to her ability on the offense.
"Over the years, everyone always says, 'she's a great defensive player,' and they don't really shine light on her offense, but she is a very good offensive player," Powell said. "I think her coming here, she has been able to showcase that a little bit more because we don't really have a limitation on how much she shoots it."
Once the Buckeyes got to the bulk of Big Ten play, Taylor started having consistent, strong offensive outings. During Ohio State's 15-game winning streak, Taylor was averaging 11.8 points compared to 8.5 in the 2023 half of the season.
McGuff realized midseason that he needed to do more to help Taylor get to the next level.
"I probably didn't give her as good direction early on as I could have or should have, but I've been more mindful of that as the year's gone on," McGuff said. "She's somebody who likes feedback. She likes to know what she's doing well and what she's not doing well and how she can do it better."
McGuff told her to be more aggressive on offense. Taylor's aggression on defense was hard to miss, but her coach wanted to see is that trait translated on offense.
While Taylor is not a point guard by trade, she started to see an uptick in assists down the stretch, finishing the year with a career-high 97, second behind only Jacy Sheldon on the team.
"She can really pass the ball," Sheldon said. "In our offense, the way she fits in, I think her ability to score and make the right reads is really special and something that benefits her game but really complements ours as well."
'Why I decided to come back'
The impact this season has had on Taylor is just as big as the one she's had for the team.
Adding a DPOTY award in a new conference that has a different playing style than ACC or the Big 12, is just one accomplishment on Taylor's list.
Already locking down the Big Ten regular-season title, Taylor is looking to add one or two more championships, whether it be from the conference tournament or NCAA.
"I mean, it's, one of the big reasons why I decided to come back, to chase that," Taylor said. "For me personally, it's something that I will cherish forever. I had a hard decision of deciding to come back to school, or entering the draft last year and so, I think that it would definitely help me be more confident and secure in the decision that I made."
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Celeste Taylor key for Ohio State heading into Big Ten tournament
