BELLINGHAM, Wash. --- During the 2016-17 school year, Western Washington University (WWU) boasted point guards on its men's and women's basketball teams that were among the best, if not THE best, ever to play for the Vikings. The friendship that developed between them and the work regimen they enjoyed together made for the special seasons their teams enjoyed.

Each had the first name Taylor, Peacocke for the women and Stafford for the men. Both were incredible athletes and the only ones with the given name Taylor in Western's 118-year basketball history.

The two Taylors -- Peacocke taking her game to a level rarely seen and Stafford a floor leader extraordinaire who found a home at Western after playing for two other schools -- enjoyed incredible senior campaigns. Their statistics, honors and team accomplishments mirrored one another. Each earned first-team All-America recognition and was the female and male Great Northwest Athletic Conference (GNAC) Player of the Year, respectively, as well as a WWU Co-Athlete of the Year.

Their abiding friendship began in the spring of 2016, six months before their senior season. Peacocke learned that Stafford needed a place to live that summer and offered him a room at the house she shared with teammates. From that evolved the grueling workouts they put in together, often on upper campus outdoor courts because of the Carver Gym renovation.

The two Taylors' relationship continued through their amazing 2016-17 campaigns, the thousands of miles that separated them after graduation, and most recently when Peacocke faced a life-threatening crisis.

A Special Season


Taylor Peacocke

In 2016-17, the 5-foot-9 Peacocke led the nation in Division II of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) in scoring, averaging a women's school-record 23.3 points with 745 in 32 games.

"She was our go-to," said WWU head women's coach Carmen Dolfo (29th year), "And she was so competitive. She wanted it. I've never had a player that dominant. Usually our teams are really balanced, but she was in a zone that whole season."

"She was unbelievable shooting and scoring. The shots she made were just amazing … Her leadership in wanting the ball and not being afraid. She did it at the defensive end too."


Taylor Stafford

Stafford, 6-1, scored a men's school-record 706 points in 31 games. His 22.8 scoring average ranked 14th nationally and second in program history.

"His one season was extremely memorable and it started with his embracing of the team and its culture," said Western head men's coach Tony Dominguez (8th year following 17 as assistant). "He was one of the hardest-working players that we've ever had."

And their eye-popping statistics were similar in every category, not just points (See Peacocke and Stafford numbers and awards at end of story).

The Taylor duo also was outstanding in the classroom, both being GNAC academic all-stars that season – Peacocke for the third time in as many years.

Team Success Was Taylor Made

While the Taylor twosome posted mind-boggling numbers and reaped numerous honors in 2016-17, each was more concerned with team success than their own.

Led by Peacocke, the Viking women completed their season 26-6, ranked No.18 in the final Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) national poll and were the No.3 seed at the NCAA Division II West Regional where they advanced to the semifinals. They were second in the GNAC regular season standings (18-2) and runner-up in the conference tourney.

"With four returning starters and six total seniors who all had competed in the NCAA tournament three years previously, there was definitely an expectation to get back again," said Peacocke about that squad. "We all expected big things from each other … The last two years we hadn't taken care of business early in the season and that ended up hurting us in getting to regionals. We weren't going to allow that to happen again."

Paced by Stafford, Western's men finished 25-6, ranked No.12 in the final National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) national poll and earned the No.3 seed at regionals before an opening-round loss to eventual champion Chico State. The Vikings won both the GNAC regular season (17-1) and conference tournament titles, the latter for the first time.
 
"Our camaraderie was why we were such a competitive team," Stafford said. "We knew it would be a special season because of our team's talent level and the fact that we all enjoyed being around one another."
 
That season, Western men's and women's basketball had a combined record of 51-12, a winning percentage of 81.0.

Driving Force Was Friendship

Neither Peacocke nor Stafford began their college basketball careers at Western. Peacocke had spent a year at NCAA Division I Sacramento State University. There she sustained a concussion that ended her freshman season. A medical hardship from the NCAA gave her four years of eligibility at Western.

Meanwhile, Stafford had transferred to Western before the 2015-16 season from DI University of Evansville, and sat out a year as a redshirt in accordance with NCAA rules. Prior to his one season competing at Evansville, he had spent two years at Eastern Arizona College.

The friendship that developed between the two Taylors became the driving force behind their individual and team success at WWU in 2016-17..

Oftentimes during the off-season, the Western women's team would have informal full court scrimmages and need a couple of players to fill out the teams. Wanting to put in as much work as possible, Stafford regularly volunteered. Thus, his introduction to Peacocke.


Taylor Peacocke

"We probably wouldn't have become friends if it weren't for basketball," said Peacocke. "That's why this sport is so great, it allows us to meet people and bond with people who we never would have otherwise. God placed Taylor into my life for a multitude of reasons, but not because we are so similar, but because we are so different - two people with completely different upbringings became brother and sister, family, because of our desire to learn, grow, and become something greater."
 
That led them to become housemates and workout partners. They pushed each other relentlessly to be better on the court. Both wanted to have a senior season to remember.
 
A typical day included running the infamous Taylor Street stairs (104), cone drills to work on ball-handling skills, practicing moves, more conditioning and shooting hundreds of shots.
 
"I look back and was fascinated by how much I wanted to learn and how much she wanted to learn," said Stafford. "She would teach me things within a drill and I would say, 'Oh, but what if you do this or how about if you did this. We were both student and teacher and it was beautiful."
 
Their efforts did not go unnoticed by coaches and teammates alike.
 
"He (Stafford) shot tirelessly on the shooting machine, he worked constantly on his ball handling and was very focused on getting better each day," Dominguez said. "I remember coming in early one morning and seeing him on the shooting machine, then seeing him on it at lunch time, and then again after practice. He brought out the work ethic in everyone by doing so. Those workouts started to get crowded and others were mimicking his routines."
 
"She (Peacocke) got really focused," said Dolfo. "A year earlier, she had sent me a long letter saying that she didn't feel as though she had the passion anymore … So, we gave her some space and during that time I believe she realized that she wanted to play and found that passion and worked so hard."
 
Gender did not present a problem for her or Stafford, Peacocke said.

"We didn't care who could do what better, because we expected the best from each other, no matter what that looked like. He would hold me accountable to perfect moves that he would teach me, and I would hold him accountable to push himself to new heights he'd never seen before and work on the fundamentals that many male athletes don't necessarily take the time to do along the way."

Peacocke went on to say that Stafford never took it easy on her during workouts and never eased up to make sure she was okay.

"I remember we were running stairs one day and he was far ahead of me. He never once slowed down but we both knew that we were pushing ourselves as hard as we could, even if that looked different for each of us."

Peacocke believes that it's easy for athletes to work with those of the same gender because it's more natural and comfortable.

"But Taylor and I were different. Neither of us had any interest in being comfortable …We talked about how staying in our comfort zones would never get us to where we wanted to be … Considering his skill set was something I couldn't match, I knew I had to bring a work ethic and mentality he'd never seen before. We brought out sides of one another we didn't know were there - ones where we worked harder, played smarter."

Stafford shared a specific instance of something he gained from their workouts together.

 
Taylor Stafford

"I had some go-to moves, but she showed me moves while dribbling the ball. Different pivot moves and things of that nature. I had watched her in open gym, her stop and start moves were great … And I loved her dribble between the legs, pause, look at the rim and then go back between the legs past the defender."
 
While their experiences and upbringings were very different, they were never an issue in their relationship.
 
"We developed a level of trust that was so deep because we put so much time into one another that those things became virtually invisible," said Peacocke. "We didn't have to talk about it, but we just knew we would run through a brick wall for each other." 
 
"Taylor was definitely one of the key reasons for my success that year," Stafford said. "She doesn't know how much she pushed me to be a better player … I thank God for placing Taylor in my life. I can never thank her enough." 
 
During that 2016-17 season, the Taylors would check in with each other daily, talking about life and basketball.
 
"Taylor (Stafford) didn't just push me every day to get better, he demanded it," said Peacocke. "He's partially responsible for my 41-point game at Simon Fraser. While shooting with me prior to the bus leaving, he was heckling me about changing my shoes. My game shoes had a hole in them, but I was too superstitious to change them. Taylor told me my other shoes 'had more buckets in them.' Taking his advice, I changed my shoes minutes before tip-off."
 
The two Taylors continued to stay in touch after their time at Western ended. That was especially true during the 2018-19 school year when Peacocke was coaching at Western New Mexico and Stafford competing in Iceland and Estonia.
 
"Taylor and I would text all the time because we were both far away from home," said Peacocke. "We had a sense of what each other was going through, and we were able to bond in that way. Taylor made me learn how to calculate the time difference, and we would try to watch each other's games, his playing and mine coaching."
 
Out Of Nowhere, Peacocke Diagnosed With Cancer 
 
In late October of 2019, Peacocke, 25, was diagnosed with large B-cell lymphoma as well as superior vena cava syndrome, all terminology for cancer. She is currently undergoing treatment, staying at the University of Washington Medical Center for five straight days of chemotherapy, followed by 16 days at home.
 
While at home, she goes to the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance twice a week for labs and check-ups. She will go through this cycle six times, completing it near the end of February.
 
Stafford was among the first people Peacocke contacted with the news of her cancer. He remembers receiving her text which began, "I have some news for you and you have to be sitting down."
 
Immediately Stafford recalled receiving similar messages from his grandmother. Each time it had been about a death in the family.
 
"My emotions and my body language went back to those times and I started pacing back and forth at my friend's house for 15 to 20 minutes before responding. I felt teary-eyed and emotional. I responded and she said that they had found a mass in her lung and that it was cancerous. And my heart dropped depths below the earth."
 
"Then she texted something that rattled my soul and I felt all of her emotion when she said it. 'I just don't want to die, Tay.' That right there hit home for me because I felt all her emotions in those words."
 
"He told me 'Tay, I don't know what to do right now,' Peacocke recalled, 'I'm at a loss for words. I love you, and you're not going to fight alone.'"
 
Peacocke also reached out to Coach Dolfo.
 
"Within one day Carmen was in the hospital with (assistant coach) Stacey (Turrell) preaching to me about being strong and assertive," Peacocke said.
 
"Carmen doesn't know this, but so much of what I learned from her program has translated into my fight with cancer. She always talked about being strong and assertive, and demanded discipline. She made me realize you had to fall in love with the process, not just the outcome."
 
Dolfo is impressed with how Peacocke is dealing with the situation.
 
"She's doing it like Taylor does things. She's working hard at getting through it and keeping a good prospective. I believe that she's handling the whole thing amazingly."


 On Feb. 15, 2020, Taylor Peacocke (bottom row, third from right) was WWU's honorary coach as the Vikings defeated  Central Washington, 77-69
Finding Their Way To WWU
 
Both Peacocke and Stafford had interesting journeys to Western.


Taylor Peacocke

PEACOCKE, a standout two-sport athlete at Inglemoor High School in Kenmore, Wash., didn't want to choose between basketball and softball when it came time to pick a college. While being recruited, she received more offers as a shortstop in softball than basketball.

"One of those came from the University of Tennessee when I was a sophomore in high school," said Peacocke. "However, they wanted me to quit basketball, which was not an option for me at the time."

While receiving scholarship offers in basketball from schools like Arizona State University and College of William & Mary, she picked Sacramento State because the Hornets would allow her to play both sports.

But upon Peacocke's arrival at Sac State, a decision was made by the basketball coach for her to focus attention solely on the court. So, besides feeling homesick, she also was frustrated with the school for going back on its promise.
 
Then, as a freshman after playing in just seven games, Peacocke suffered a concussion that ended her season. Well before coming home for winter break, she had decided not to return.
 
A big reason was her family. "I wanted to be somewhere where they could watch me play and be a part of my career with me. None of this would have been possible without them. They pushed me to become the best that I could be and gave me a solid support system to lean on."
 
One of Peacocke's tattoos is her favorite Bible verse, Jeremiah 29:11. It reads, "For I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." She got that after coming home from Sacramento State.

Because of its tradition of success in women's basketball and the proximity (90 miles) to home, Peacocke chose to attend Western.
 
As a redshirt freshman in 2013-14, Peacocke helped the Vikings win the GNAC Tournament and reach the first round of the NCAA II West Regional. Unfortunately, they were denied regional berths the next two seasons.
 
Having regained passion for the game, Peacocke enjoyed an unforgettable senior season with the Vikings. After that, she gave professional ball a try by participating in the 20th Annual Women's Pro Combine and Free Agent Camp hosted by the University of Texas at Dallas during the NCAA Final Four weekend.

An accolade that had particular meaning for Peacocke was having her jersey hung in the Ring of Honor at the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame located in Knoxville, Tenn.

"This honor means more to me than I can express in words," said Peacocke at the time. "Some of the players who have been honored in the past are players I have looked up to since I first started playing and discovered my love for the game of basketball."

Peacocke, who earned a bachelor's degree in sociology, was a graduate assistant coach for the Vikings in 2017-18. The next year, while serving as a full-time assistant coach at Western New Mexico University, she completed a master's degree in psychology with an emphasis in criminal justice.

Peacocke has nothing but praise for Western and its women's basketball program.

"I can say whole-heartedly that my time at Western and with the women's basketball program was life changing and hands down the best experience of my life," she said. "I owe so much about the person and the player I became to my coaches. I cannot express how grateful I am for their dedication, passion, knowledge and genuine care to not only develop me as a basketball player but as a strong, independent woman as well."

"This program taught me the core values of selflessness, humility, family and the value and voice that women athletes have in a society that is primarily male-dominant in the world of athletics … I've been blessed to represent a program and university that represents and values so much more than just athletics, but people and diversity as well.


Taylor Stafford

STAFFORD spent his early childhood living in a low-income housing section of Chicago.
 
"I heard gunshots at night and knew the protocol, turn out the lights and get on the floor," he said. "We had to do that many times. On one occasion we saw a shootout, a gun battle, from the fourth floor of an apartment building where a friend lived … My cousins and my friends would use basketball to silence the noise around us. That's how my love of basketball grew."
 
When he was 11, Stafford and his family moved to Duluth, Minn.
 
By his own admission, Stafford had attitude problems. Being naturally gifted, he didn't know why he should train for something he just saw as a release. He didn't like being coached and he had a short temper.
 
But as a high school junior his game exploded and he took part in Amateur Athletic Union ball for two summers, playing alongside players currently in the National Basketball Association.
 
As a prep senior, he was recruited by a few Division I programs and numerous Division II schools. However, not being a full NCAA qualifier out of high school, he would not have been eligible to play as a freshman. That led him to the junior college ranks.
 
At Eastern Arizona College, Stafford was a two-time, third-team All-American, averaging 25.0 points as a sophomore.
 
"I was working out more and had developed a passion for the sport," he said. "Prior to my freshman season, my coach (Maurice Leitzke) sat me down and told me that I was not coachable. This was the preseason and he was fed up. I could see it in his eyes. So, I took that conversation and ran with it. I was more coachable because he made me aware of it. I'm glad that I listened to him because that could have altered my life if I had stayed stuck in my stubbornness."
 
Following his time at Eastern Arizona, Stafford was recruited by nearly 50 Division I schools. He chose Evansville, one of the best men's basketball programs in the country.
 
"I remember my dad and I were shooting in the gym (on campus) and talking, and I almost cried as I said, 'Look how far we've come.'"
 
At Evansville as a junior in 2014-15, Stafford saw limited playing time, averaging 1.7 points in 29 games on a team that won a post-season tournament championship. And an assistant coach who had recruited Stafford and who he was very close to left for a head coaching position.
 
Stafford decided to transfer.
 
"Just knowing myself, what kind of player I am and what I could do. I always believed in myself, so I just wanted to go somewhere where I could play more and have a bigger role,' he said of the decision.
 
So, Stafford went through the recruiting process for a third time.
 
Several schools contacted Stafford after he received his release from Evansville. Not a fan of the recruiting process to begin with, he felt overwhelmed and questioned if he wanted to continue playing basketball. He got to the point of not answering calls from interested coaches.
 
"Then my junior college coach called and told me about Western. Him calling me before Coach Dominguez tried is why I picked up the phone for Tony. After that conversation, I was intrigued. Also, the fact he understood I would have to sit out for a year was even better. I wasn't interested in visiting because at the time I didn't like flying. After looking at the school's website, I just decided a couple days later to come to Western."
 
In order to be eligible the next season Stafford had to redshirt at Western in 2015-16. That turned out to be a blessing in disguise.
 
As Dominguez explained, "I liked the way he played, so I allowed him to be the main focal point of our offense. He was our point guard. He had extreme quickness and great ball-handling skills. I don't know that I would've done that if he had just been here for a year and I didn't know him, but after a year of redshirting and getting to know his personality, it was just a really good match."
 
In 2016-17, Stafford had his share of memorable performances. In a 44-point outburst against UC San Diego, ranked No. 19 nationally, he hit 15-of-21 field goals, including 7-of-9 3-pointers. Two games prior to that, he had 30 points, eight rebounds, seven assists and six steals against Saint Martin's.
 
But the effort Stafford remembers most fondly came in a 96-91 overtime win against Seattle Pacific. He had 28 points and nine rebounds, scoring 11 straight Western points near the end of regulation to help force overtime.
 
During the summer after his collegiate career ended, Stafford, who graduated with a bachelor's degree in multi-disciplinary studies, played with the Bellingham Slam, a minor league team, in the Seattle Pro-Am tournament hosted by NBA player Jamal Crawford.
 
That led to a professional career overseas, Stafford playing for Hottur in the Icelandic Premier League and Mgvarebi BC in the Georgian Superleagus in 2017-18 and for Tallinna Kalev/TLU in Estonia, and the Baltic Pro Leagues in 2018-19.
 
Now he is back at Western, earning a second degree, this one in English literature. He also works in early childhood education at Roosevelt Grade School in Bellingham.
 
"My time at WWU has been amazing to say the least," said Stafford. "I have met some great individuals who I will remember forever. And I thank Coach Dominguez for giving me another chance."
 
2016-17 Numbers And Awards
 
Taylor Peacocke
 
Averaged 23.3 points (745), 3.1 assists (98), 3.7 rebounds (119) and 1.3 steals (43), shooting 47.2 percent (250-of-530) from the field, 43.0 percent (86-of-200) from 3-point range and 85.0 percent (159-of-187) at the free throw line.

Scored 20 or more points in 23 of 32 games, and had four games of 30 or more points, including 41 in one contest at Simon Fraser, one shy of the women's school record (set standard for points in a half – 27).

Finished second among WWU career scorers with 1,940 points, only 50

First-team WBCA and Division II Bulletin All-American and earned second-team D2 Conference Commissioners Association All-America honors. GNAC Player of the Year.
Participated in the Women's Professional Basketball Combine and Free Agent Camp in April of 2017 and in recognition of her outstanding season, her jersey was hung in the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame Ring of Honor.

United States Basketball Writers Association National Player of the Week for Jan. 16-22. Three-time GNAC Player of the Week. Also named to four all-tournament teams, being MVP on three of them.

WWU Co-Female Athlete of the Year.

Taylor Stafford

Averaged 22.8 points (206), 3.5 assists (107), 5.0 rebounds (154) and 1.7 steals (54), shooting 46.1 percent (228-of-495) from the floor, 39.2 percent (78-of-199) from beyond the arc and 86.9 percent (172-of-198) at the charity stripe.

Scored 20 or more points in 20 of 31 games, with a GNAC-best eight 30-point performances. Tallied 44 points in a game at UC San Diego, the second-highest scoring performance in WWU men's hoop history, just three points off the record.

First-team All-America selection by the NABC and Basketball Times, and was a second-team Division II Bulletin All-American.

GNAC Player and Newcomer of the Year and Tournament MVP, and a three-time GNAC Player of the Week.

Finalist for Bevo Francis Small College Basketball Player of the Year. Picked to play in the NABC/Reese's DII All-Star Game.

WWU Co-Male Athlete of the Year.

Unfortunately Not At Carver Gym
 
The only negative about the accomplishments of Peacocke and Stafford in 2016-17 and those of their teams was that they did not perform at Sam Carver Gymnasium on the WWU campus. That year, the Vikings practiced at the Wade King Recreation Center and their home games were held six miles to the north at Whatcom Community College.

It was the second of two straight seasons that the Vikings did not play their home basketball games at Carver Gym. The building, which was originally completed in 1961, and the attached Physical Education Building that preceded it in 1936, were closed to accommodate an $81.5 million renovation project.
 
Taylor Peacocke Bio
 
As a senior at Western in 2016-17, the 5-foot-9 point guard led the nation in Division II of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) in scoring, averaging a women's school-record 23.3 points with 745 in 32 games. Also averaged 3.1 assists (98), 3.7 rebounds (119) and 1.3 steals (43), shooting 47.2 percent (250-of-530) from the field, 43.0 percent (86-of-200) from 3-point range and 85.0 percent (WWU record 159-of-187) at the free throw line. Scored 20 or more points in 23 of 32 games, and had four games of 30 or more points, including 41 in one contest at Simon Fraser, one shy of the school record.

First-team Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) and Division II Bulletin All-American. Second-team D2 Conference Commissioners Association All-American. Great Northwest Athletic Conference Player of the Year. WWU Co-Athlete of the Year. Participated in Women's Professional Basketball Combine and Free Agent Camp in April of 2017 and her jersey appeared in the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame Ring of Honor display for recognition of outstanding play during the 2016-17 season. Selected to the NCAA II West Regional All-Tournament team. Also honored as the United States Basketball Writers Association National Player of the Week for Jan. 16-22. A three-time GNAC Player of the Week pick and named to four all-tournament teams, being MVP of three.

Placed second among WWU career scorers with 1,940 points, 50 away from the record, and a 16.3 per game average in 119 games.

First-team all-GNAC selection in 2015-16 and 2016-17 and second-team choice in 2014-15. Also a three-time GNAC academic all-star.

Originally chose to attend NCAA Division I Sacramento State University. Played in seven games for the Hornets as freshman before a concussion ended her season. Received a medical hardship from the NCAA.

Second-team Associated Press Class 4A all-State selection and 2012 Seattle Star Times pick as a senior at Inglemoor High School (Kenmore, Wash.). Set school career scoring record with 1,152 points. Three-time all-KingCo League selection. Averaged league-leading 19.3 points, 6.1 rebounds, 4.3 steals and 3.2 assists as a senior. Three-star recruit according to ESPN Hoop Gurlz. Participated in Washington State Girls Basketball Coaches Association and Queens of the Hardwood all-star games. Team captain and team MVP, the latter for the third consecutive season. Averaged 18.0 points, 9.2 rebounds and 4.0 assists as a junior. Bothell/Kenmore Reporter Female Athlete of the Year and Seattle Times WIAA Player of the Week. Averaged school-record 19.6 points and 10.6 rebounds as a sophomore. Three-year starter and letter winner. Also earned three letters in softball. Set four school records including home runs (6), doubles (12) and batting average (.485) in a season (6) and home runs in a career (14). Helped IHS to the first round of the state playoffs as a senior and league title and third place at state as a sophomore. Named KingCo League Defensive Player of the Year and first-team designated hitter as a junior. All-league third baseman as a sophomore and honorable mention all-league shortstop as a senior. Team captain as a junior and senior. Started every game in basketball and softball during her three-year career.

Graduated from Western with a bachelor's degree in sociology. Graduate assistant coach for Vikings in 2017-18. Earned master's degree in psychology with an emphasis on criminal justice in 2019 while serving as full-time assistant coach at Western New Mexico University.

Taylor Stafford Bio

Played professionally for two years following his career at Western, competing for Hottur in the Icelandic Premier League and Mgvarebi BC in the Georgian Superleagus in 2017-18 and for Tallinna Kalev/TLU in Estonia, and Baltic Pro Leagues in 2018-19.

The 6-foot-1 point guard scored a school-record 706 points in 31 games. His 22.8 scoring average ranked 14th nationally in Division II of the NCAA and second in WWU history.

Also averaged 3.5 assists (107), 5.0 rebounds (154) and 1.7 steals (54), shooting 46.1 percent (228-of-495) from the floor, 39.2 percent (78-of-199) from beyond the arc and 86.9 percent (172-of-198) at the charity stripe. Scored 20 or more points in 20 of 31 games, and had a league-best eight 30-point performances. Tallied 44 points in a game at UC San Diego, the second-best scoring performance in WWU history and just three points off the record.

First-team All-America selection by the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) and the Basketball Times, becoming just the third player in program history to earn first-team All-America honors, and a second-team Division II Bulletin All-American. Great Northwest Athletic Conference (GNAC) Player of the Year and WWU Co-Athlete of the Year. Also was GNAC Newcomer of the Year and Tournament MVP, a three-time GNAC Player of the Week, a finalist for the Bevo Francis Small College Basketball Player of the Year award and was selected to play in the NABC/Reese's DII All-Star Game.

Sat out the 2015-16 season as redshirt at WWU after transferring from NCAA Division I University of Evansville where he saw action in 29 games for the Purple Aces as a junior in 2014-15, averaging 1.7 points. Competed two seasons at Eastern Arizona College, earning third-team Junior College All-America recognition both times. Was a first-team all-region and Arizona Community College Athletic Conference (ACCAC) Player of the Year as a sophomore in 2013-14, ranking fourth nationally in scoring at 25.0 points per game, shooting 40.2 percent from 3-point range and 82.7 percent at the free throw line for the 19-12 Gila Monsters. As a freshman in 2012-13, averaged 18.3 points on a 20-10 team, earning all-conference and ACCAC Freshman of the Year honors.

Attended East High School in Duluth, Minn. First-team Duluth News-Tribune all-Area and Tournament MVP as a senior, averaging 24.0 points and 7.0 assists with a high game of 45 points. Set scoring record at the Best Buy Classic with 111 points in three games. Started and lettered three seasons for the Greyhounds, helping them reach the first round at the Class 4A state tournament as a junior and senior.

Graduated from WWU in 2017 with a bachelor's degree in multi-disciplinary studies, then returned to Western last fall to complete a second degree, this one in English literature.

Written by Paul Madison who served 48 years as sports information director at WWU from 1966 to 2015. He is now in his fifth year as the school's Athletics Historian.