For some people, they're born to do one thing.
And for a Redding native with a legendary last name, that one thing has always been basketball.
At the ripe age of 26, Taylor Angley is the new man in charge of U-Prep High School's Men's basketball team.
Angley is a basketball lifer, from a basketball family with deep ties to Enterprise High School. His grandfather, Jamie Angley, has a yearly basketball tournament named in his honor. And Taylor's Uncle, Brody, was a terrific hooper for the Hornets, then the University of Santa Clara, before playing pro-ball abroad.
And now Taylor, who made a name for himself at Enterprise playing both basketball and football, is the head of a program with a less rich tradition, but tremendous potential.
U-Prep is 12-9 overall in 2022 and picking up steam. They've won five straight games, including their first four league match-ups. On top of that, Coach Angley lead the Panthers to first in a tourney with extra meaning to him: the Jamie Angley Hornet Classic.
When asked about his vision for the Panthers basketball program, formed less than 20 years ago, Angley said he refuses to be short-sighted.
"It's definitely in steps. So every year, the goal is to win league, first and foremost. And we're off to a good start, but with six games left, we got a lot to accomplish still." In regards to what he hopes to instill in his players, Angley reflected on how he was raised.
My Grandpa used to always say to enjoy the journey, and that's what I want these kids to understand. We are going to teach them to be good young men, through the game of basketball.
Angley credits his mom, Rochelle Angley, U-Prep's Principal and one of the original staff members of the school, for his desire to be at U-Prep in the first place.
He also said the late, great football coach for both Enterprise and U-Prep, Darren Trueblood, was the man who helped him fulfill his calling: coaching sports.
"I was able to play for a lot of good coaches that impacted my life on and off the court. So, becoming a coach for me was a very easy decision and something I always wanted to do."
--
To report errors or issues with this article please email the editorial team.