Record-smashing Collinsville guard established legacy during storied career as Kahok
Ray’Sean Taylor didn’t want to believe it was true. But it was.
Without ever stepping on the floor for the title game of the IHSA Class 4A Pekin Sectional, one of the best players in the long and storied history of Collinsville High School basketball had his Kahoks career come to an end March 12 when IHSA officials canceled the remainder of the basketball postseason because of the coronavirus pandemic.
“It was one of those things that when we first heard it, we couldn’t believe it. When we found out it was true, we didn’t want to believe it.,” Taylor said this week in a phone interview. “We were all pretty devastated.
“It’s my senior year and there was only another week left anyway. We had worked so hard all year and the way we were playing at the time, we felt like we had a legitimate chance of winning it (the state championship).”
While the final days of his high school career did not provide a happy ending, Taylor’s senior season and his four years at Collinsville were ones for the record book.
A first team all-state selection by both the Associated Press and Illinois Basketball Coaches Association, Taylor led the metro-east in scoring, averaging 23.6 points, while recording six rebounds, five assists and nearly three steals per game for a Collinsville team which was ranked among the top five Class 4A squads in the state all season.
The Belleville News-Democrat Class 3A-4A Player of the Year, Taylor helped lead Collinsville to a 31-3 record and Southwestern Conference championship.
But Taylor is the first to say the Kahoks success was a team effort.
“I think the difference this season was that we had a lot of experience and players who knew and played their roles very well each night,” Taylor said. “We had Cawhan (Smith) playing defense, putting pressure on teams and hitting big shots. We had Keydrian Jones up front rebounding, scoring inside, and we had Nate (Hall) and Lorent Dzelandini rebounding and playing defense. David (Granger) came off the bench and hit the boards for us.
“We were all focused on trying to get to the state tournament. Being a senior, this was it for me. I gave everything I had every night.”
And Taylor, giving everything he had, was worth the price of admission every time he took the floor. Fourth in the balloting for Illinois Mr. Basketball, the 6-1 Taylor became one of a select few players in metro-east history to score over 50 points in a game when he tallied a career high 53 points in Collinsville’s win over St. Louis Trinity Catholic in the title game of the Belleville East Chick-Fil-A Classic.
Four nights later, Taylor broke loose for 44 points in the Kahoks win at Triad. But Taylor’’s biggest individual achievement came Feb. 21 when he scored 18 points in a win over Belleville West. During the game, Taylor went past Kahoks legend Tom Parker as Collinsville’s all-time career scoring leader.
Parker, who went on to play at the University of Kentucky for coaching legend Adolph Rupp, had 2,041 points as a Kahok. Taylor, who finished his senior season with 804 points, ended his high school career with 2,167 points.
Kahoks coach has big impact on Taylor
Collinsville coach Darin Lee has been instrumental in Taylor’s development both as a basketball player and student-athlete and knows very well what a first class young man he has had the opportunity to coach the past four years.
“Ray’Sean’s impact on our program was substantial in many ways that fans were not able to see,” Lee said. “Everyone saw Ray’s spectacular scoring ability, but his work ethic and practice intensity lifted our entire program’s success. He also carried that work ethic into the classroom, where he was an A student.
“Ray’Sean and our 2020 team energized our entire fanbase and made Kahok basketball a must see event.’’
In addition to owning the Kahoks scoring record, Taylor is second in school history in field goals (746), free throws made (510) and games played (120). He ranks third in steals (231) and 3-point field goals (165) and is fourth in assists (436). Taylor’s career scoring average of 18.1 is fifth all time.
Taylor emerges as leader, readies for SIUE
But how was Taylor a better player in 2019-20?
“I think I was a better leader this year and I think that comes from experience and just maturing as a person,” Taylor said. “Coach (Lee) trusted me to make the right decisions and I appreciate that. He’s been tough on me at times, but he’s tough on all of his players. He helps you become a better person and player.
“By being more mature, it was easier for me to take over when I needed to. Now, taking over doesn’t always mean scoring. You can take over a game by getting a key rebound or making a pass to a teammate. I do think I improved my passing this year.”
Taylor will look to improve in all phases of the game next season as a member of the Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville men’s basketball program.
“I’m excited to play at the college level. But I know I’ve got a lot of work ahead of me,” Taylor said. “In all areas of the game ... I’m not there yet.”
Belleville News-Democrat Class 3A-4A Boys All-Area Basketball Team
Player of the Year
Ray’Sean Taylor, Collinsville, sr. (23.6 ppg, 6.1 rpg, 5 assists, 2.7 steals)
Coaches of the Year
Darin Lee, Collinsville; Brian Muniz, O’Fallon; and Mark Chambers, East St. Louis
First Team
Luke Cox, Triad, sr. (23.11 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 2.9 assists)
Shaun Riley II, O’Fallon, jr. (10.8 ppg, 6.6 rpg)
Brennan Weller, Edwardsville, jr. (19.3 ppg, 5.2 rpg)
Tommie Williams, Belleville West, jr. (14.6 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 1.9 assists, 2 steals)
Cawhan Smith, Collinsville, sr. (9.6 ppg, 2.7 rpg, 2.5 assists, 2.7 steals)
Second Team
Dawson Algee, O’Fallon, soph. (9.6 ppg, 6.8 rpg)
Ethyn Brown, Belleville East, jr. (12.7 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 3.8 assists, 2.6 steals)
Braxton Stacker, Belleville East, soph. (14.0 ppg, 5.4 rpg)
Keydrian Jones, Collinsville, sr. (9.9 ppg, 6.7 rpg)
Jashawn Anderson, East St. Louis, sr. (11.7 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 5.8 assists, 2.9 steals)
(tie) Lashawn Johnson, East St. Louis, sr. (11.2 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 2 assists, 2 steals)
Honorable Mention
Cade Altadonna, Highland; Antwan Baker, Cahokia; Caleb Burton, O’Fallon; Nate Hall, Collinsville; Nick Hemken, Edwardsville; Matthew Jackson, Jerseyville; Christian Jones, Granite City; Justin King, Mascoutah; Ty Lenhardt, Waterloo; Jack Nafziger, Edwardsville; Jabril Olivaria, East St. Louis; Keli’i Price, Belleville West; Alex Reams, Civic Memorial; Macaleab Rich, East St. Louis; Ky’Lun Rivers, Alton; Tucker Shalley, Jerseyville; Drew Tebbe, O’Fallon; Jahkeis Tippett, Granite City; Eric Wade, Belleville East; Greg Wells, Belleville West; Armond Williams., East St. Louis; Nate Winslow, Triad; Moory Woods, Alton.
