Boys’ basketball: Derrick Taylor has another top point guard at Taft

When Derrick Taylor has a top point guard at Woodland Hills Taft, the Toreadors usually make a run at a City Section championship.

After a four-year stint at St. John Bosco, Taylor is back at Taft, and opposing teams better be prepared because Taylor has another promising point guard to build his team around in sophomore Kihei Clark.

Jordan Farmar, Larry Drew, Michael Williams and Spencer Dinwiddie helped the Toreadors win three City Section titles under Taylor.

“Kihei fits right into their mode,” Taylor said before holding an afternoon workout with his new team this week. “He’s heady, he’s slick, he can shoot, he’s a team leader.”

Fairfax and Westchester are considered the title favorites, but Taft should be in the mix by season’s end.

Taylor is bringing back a high-low attack to take advantage of his team’s size and is excited about using the pick-and-roll, something he studied on during the offseason while talking to NBA participants.

“I think it’s virtually unguardable if you excecute it right,” he said. “I don’t care how a team defends it. They’re going to give you something if you execute properly.”

Times have changed in prep basketball, where practices are now year-round and games take place throughout the school year. In fact, there’s a big fall tournament set for Saturday at Long Beach Jordan, the Ron Massey Hoops Classic.

Here’s the link to the schedule.

Taft isn’t competing this weekend, but watch the pick-and-roll plays. They’re starting to become as popular as in the NBA.

Twitter:@LATSondheimer