Taylor kicking off youth summer basketball league

By Jeff Oliver

MVI Sports

Yancey Taylor learned the game of basketball at a young age.

He honed his skills and his ability to play basketball served him very well in his life.

In high school, he became Ringgold’s all-time leading scorer.

In college, he led Indiana University of Pennsylvania to the top of the heap in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference and into the NCAA Division II playoffs and later into the IUP Hall of Fame.

After college, he played professionally overseas for eight years, where he was a star.

Now that his playing career is over, the Donora resident and sports consultant, wants to give as many kids as he can the possibility to not only play, but succeed in the sport he loves so much.

Thanks to the help of some key volunteers, interested political leaders and some successful friends who also were born and raised in southwestern Pennsylvania, Taylor will be launching the We Care For Kids Sports Summer Basketball League.

The league, open for boys and girls teams in grades 3-8, opens play in June. But starting this week, Taylor will be conducting instructional clinics for children in the league to help them prepare for play in the summer.

The clinics, as well as the season-opening games on June 6, will be held at the newly refurbished court at Highland Terrace, where Taylor grew up.

The rest of the season will be played at Ringgold Middle School and Ringgold Elementary South gyms.

“I just care about kids and so many kids struggle because there is nothing for them to do,” said Taylor. “The league is already sold out with over 300 kids. The response has been amazing. We have boys and girls teams from everywhere coming, not only locally, but from schools like Thomas Jefferson, South Fayette and Albert Gallatin.

“This thing has really taken off. I’ve had to turn some teams away, which makes me feel bad. But the most important thing I’m worried about is the kids. They are the future. When I was growing up, I had people like Ray Amatangelo help me. We need to help our kids, give them something to shoot for, to look forward to.”

To read the rest of the story, please see a copy of Tuesday’s Mon Valley Independent, call 724-314-0035 to subscribe or subscribe to our online edition at http://monvalleyindependent.com.