Prospect Spotlight: Taylor Veach (2022)
One of the top players in the 2022 class is Central DeWitt’s Taylor Veach. A standout freshman, last season at Central Dewitt she scored 13.8 points a game while shooting 41.4 percent from behind the arc. She can shoot it, but that isn’t the only thing to Veach’s game. Her ability to score at the rim through contact has been on full display this summer and the slick lefty has been stuffing the stat sheet in each game. Veach led her team in points per game this past year as a freshman, and with added aggressiveness and skill, I wouldn’t be surprised to see her raise up near 20 points a game next season. Central DeWitt is in strong hands with her and Lady Martin Brothers teammate Allie Meadows running the show.
“The high school basketball season exceeded everyone’s expectations in regards to wins,” Veach said. “After being picked to finish last in the conference we ended second in our division behind Marion. My expectations have always been high and I want a chance to compete at the state tournament for a championship. So losing in substate was disappointing despite having a young team. But I couldn’t have asked to play with a better group of people for my freshman year and I am beyond excited to see what we can accomplish going forward.”
Veach is happy with how this summer is going. Lady Martin Brothers is a relatively new program so most of the players are playing together for the first time. With that, Veach is playing a different role than she has before. Playing an off ball role this summer has taught her how to move without the ball better as well as how to find her shot more effectively. She is a very versatile player allowing her to use her strength and speed to do whatever the team needs, as she notes below.
“I would say the AAU season is going great considering we are a new team,” Veach said. “I didn’t know what to expect going in but I knew we had great players and great coaches. The girls on my team all get along really well and that carries over to the basketball court. We continue to improve but most importantly we all have the desire to improve.”
Veach has a lot of good things to say about her teammates this summer, but she is also focused on improving things that will allow her to get to the next level.
“This summer I am working a lot on getting my shot percentages up, not just 3-pointers but mid-range and various basket finishes,” Veach said. “I want to be able to be versatile and position less so that I can take advantage of mismatches at all positions. I generally played point guard for my high school team. I am lucky in that with my travel team I am allowed to play positions one through four depending on what the team needs with that specific rotation. It really helps me improve all my skills, both defensively and offensively. My goal for the rest of the summer is to get lots of shots up to increase my consistency at all ranges. In addition, as I continue to grow in height I am working at finishing around the basket. And with that, agility and weight training will be part of the daily routine.”
The cap to Veach’s spectacular freshman season was an invitation to the USA 16U Basketball Trials in Colorado. Unfortunately, Veach missed the cut but learned a lot. Competing with the best in the country and learning from the top people in the business will help her a lot down the road.
“The USA trials was an incredible experience,” Veach said. “There was so much athleticism, skill, and talent. Just so fun to play at that level. Yet educational in that it really helped me focus on what I need to work on to continue getting to that top level. One of the neatest things about the trip was being able to play in the Olympic training facilities.”
Veach has been working hard on her game and it is already paying dividends. She has put Central DeWitt on the map as a team that is going to be one to watch over the next few years. She has already stood out this summer among her peers and won’t stop working until she gets to where she wants to be. Veach is a must watch 2022 prospect in the state.