IPFW head men’s basketball coach Jon Coffman has announced the addition of former Bradley student-athlete Xzavier Taylor to play for the Mastodons starting in the 2016-17 season after sitting out next year because of the NCAA Transfer Residency requirement.

"We are excited to have Xzavier join our program," said Coffman. "Xzavier is an experienced, athletic, physical post. He brings two seasons of NCAA Division I experience in the Missouri Valley, coupled with playing at the highest level in both high school at Morgan Park and in AAU with Mac Irvin Fire in the EYBL."

Taylor played the last two seasons at Bradley, where he started 25 times in 61 total games. The 6-9 forward averaged 3.1 points per game and 2.5 boards per game over his two seasons. He has also been stellar in the classroom, as he was named to the Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) Honor Roll and to the MVC Commissioner’s Academic Excellence Award. He was also a MVC Scholar-Athlete in 2015 as part of the second team, and picked up the MVC Leadership & Service Award.

In his first season in Peoria, Taylor started 18 times, 17 times in the final 18 games of the year. He had a 14-point, 11-rebound double-double against Evansville on February 9, and his 23 blocks during the season led the team. Against Chicago State on November 15, Taylor hit 4-of-5 shots from the field, for 11 total points while adding six rebounds.

As a sophomore he played in 29 games, starting seven times, averaging just under 10 minutes per game. He scored a season-high eight points on February 25, while scoring seven against nationally ranked Northern Iowa on January 13.

Taylor helped lead Morgan Park to the 2013 IHSA Class 3A state championship, scoring 11 points and pulling down 12 rebounds in the title game. Added 10 points, eight rebounds, and a blocked shot in the semifinal victory.