Providence hires new basketball coach Scott Taylor, former Queens University assistant

Providence High athletics director Charles Lansing said he was thrilled to be able to hire new boys basketball coach Scott Taylor.

Taylor, who will teach health and physical education, just finished his fifth season as the top assistant on the Queens University Basketball staff. Taylor, 30, also coached one season at Carson-Newman. Taylor graduated from Florida State, where he was head manager of the men’s basketball team for three years under Steve Robinson and Leonard Hamilton.

 “We had over 50 people apply and he blew us away,” Lansing said of Taylor. “He was very personable and cares about the kids and the school and he will show up at every event. It’s a great, great addition.”

At Providence, he replaces Myron Lowery, who resigned in June. Lansing said Lowery wished to spend more time with his family and has since transferred to N.C. 4A champ Olympic.

The Panthers, who have won nine games in three years, are expected to return several key players, including All-Southwesetern 4A conference star Giovanni Mack, who has recruiting interest from Jacksonville, Santa Clara and Mount Saint Mary’s.

“We’re thrilled to have Scott,” Lansing said. “From talking to him, he’s a teacher of basketball. He’s not going to come in with a system and expect the kids to run it. He’s going to figure out what to do with the kids he has and work for them.”

Former W. Charlotte basketball star Jacoby Davis signs with Mississippi State

Former West Charlotte point guard Jacoby Davis, who led the Lions to the 2011 N.C. 4A state championship, has signed with Mississippi State. He is new Mississippi State coach Rick Ray’s first signee.

Ray, 40, was formerly associate head coach at Clemson.

“I’m really excited about Jacoby joining the Bulldog family,” Ray said. “He’s exactly the type of quality person we are looking for in this basketball program. I think he’ll be a great addition to our team because he’s a winner and he cares about the team. He is a true point guard who can set up teammates, but he’s also a good shooter and will take pressure off of his teammates with is ability to knock down shots.”

Davis will compete for the point guard spot vacated by senior Dee Bost, a former Concord High star. Bost averaged 15.8 points this season and is projected as a second round draft pick by NBADraft.net
Davis, who turns 20 May 20, played the past season at St. John’s Northwestern Military Academy in Delafield, Wis. He averaged 21 points and five assists.

After playing two seasons in high school at Vance, he played his final two seasons at West Charlotte. In the 2010-11 season, he led the Lions to a 28-2 record and a state championship, averaging 17.5 points and 5.3 assists. After the 2010-11 season, he was named to the All-Charlotte Observer basketball team and played in the Jordan Brand Classic regional game.

“I really enjoyed my visit to Mississippi State,” Davis said. “I really felt comfortable with everyone (there). There have been a lot of great point guards at Mississippi State and hopefully I can come in and continue that tradition. This is a dream come true.”

When Davis was at Vance, he played with two other point guards -- Braxton Ogbueze and Marquise Rankin. Each has now signed with major colleges. Rankin is playing at Virginia Tech and Ogbueze, a top 50 national recruit, will play at Florida next season