It is beginning to get late in the spring signing period for many of Arizona's top unsigned prospects. After another strong performance in his senior season for Apollo High School, and leading the program to a semi-final finish in the state's 5A Division, Apollo High School's talented 6-foot-7, 180-pound senior wing Emmanuel Taban has found a program for his future. After taking an unofficial visit to Cal-State Fullerton this weekend, while his club program competed in California, Taban decided to pull the trigger with the school and give a verbal commitment to the program.
It was getting late for Taban who previously had considered Texas Tech and Nevada, as his two future college destinations. Both the Texas Tech and Nevada's basketball programs had tremendous success during the 2018-2019 college basketball season, and so neither program continued to pursue Taban as hard late in the high school season, as they both did last spring and summer. While Taban had an excellent showing his senior season, Taban decided to open up his college recruitment and pursue other opportunties this spring.
Rather than continue looking and seeing what is available to him, Taban found his fit with successful Head Coach Dedrique Taylor and his Cal-State Fullerton program. Taylor reeled in Taban, in what is a complete steal for a Big West Conference program. Taylor and his staff are to be commended for landing Taban, who has tremendous upside for the future physically, but a high skill level that will allow him to compete immediately.
Taban received his share of college recruitment over the past two years, as he garnered numerous scholarship offers for himself, as such schools as Texas Tech, Kansas State, Nevada, UC-Santa Barbara, Grand Canyon, Wyoming, Portland State and Southern Utah each extended offers to him.
In his senior season, Taban averaged 18.9 points and 5.6 rebounds per/contest, while leading Apollo to an impressive 25-4 overall record on the season.
Taban previously attended the annual Pangos All-American Camp held in Los Angeles, California - the top camp in the West that features many of the nation's elite level prospects.
Taban has tremendous potential for the future, as he has exceptional upside as a basketball prospect. Possessing a long but very thin frame physically, Taban has a nice ability to shoot the basketball with range, his best offensive asset. Once he gets on a strength and nutrition regimen, he should blossom physically for the future.
Taban will officially sign a national letter of intent with Cal-State Fullerton this week.
Congratulations to Emmanuel, Apollo HS head coach Jacob Marin and Factory club coach Kenny Mullins on this accomplishment for Taban, and good luck to him in his future, as he looks to pave a way for more Arizona prospects to be recruited in the future from Apollo HS.
Arizona Hoop Review Scouting Report: Taban is a nice college prospect for the future, as he has tremendous potential for the future, and exceptional upside as a basketball prospect. Possessing a long but very thin frame physically, Taban is a long wing prospect with very good overall versatility and a slashing mindset. While an athletic wing performer with a nice ability to slash and finish plays, and a pure shooting stroke with range, Taban is an attractive prospect, although he needs to gain some serious size to his very thin frame. Taban's best offensive asset is his ability to shoot the basketball with range. He is also able to slash and score in the lane or in the open floor, where he thrives and enjoys getting out on the break. His ability to make plays in the open floor and when slashing to the basket are valuable qualities as a player. He is a solid defender that uses his length and athleticism to defend passing lanes and get steals, while also being able to deflect passes. He is also a very good shotblocker as a result of his length and timing as a shotblocker. He has excellent versatility as a player, and should be able to play several positions on the floor over time as he matures physically.
