A Virginian in Memphis

Scanned the rosters of the Final Four teams for a 757 connection. Best I could do was the 804.

Meet Shawn Taggart of Memphis, by way of Richmond, and Iowa State, and, the school of hard knocks, judging by the stories he told Friday.

Wish Taggart a happy birthday. He turned 23 on March 26. He's a sophomore, which tells you a little about the circuitous path he took to San Antonio.

"I feel old," he said. "To be 23 and still in college."

Taggart played at George Wythe, where by his own admission, he was not the most disciplined student in the world. He left Richmond and headed to Mount Zion Christian Academy in Durham, N.C., where he said "calmed down and put more effort into being a better person."

Next stop: Iowa State. Taggart lasted one season and left after coach Wayne Morgan was fired. He sat out last season and has averaged 6 points off the bench for Memphis, backing up Joey Dorsey. He scored 12 in the regional final win over Texas.

Taggart, 6-10 and 230 pounds, said he never considered any Virginia schools.

"I'd have gotten in too much trouble," he said. "I'd have been too close to home."

Now Taggart says he's on track to graduate. He counts fellow Richmonder Bombale "Fear the Fro" Osby of Maryland among his closest friends. But he says he wants to win a national title for "all the Richmond guys who never made it."

"I do this for them," he said.

-- Ed Miller

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