Buycks Signs with Toronto

OTTUMWA --- Former Indian Hills Community College basketball star Dwight Buycks has found a home in the NBA.  The Toronto Raptors announced this week they have signed Buycks to a contract, financial details of which were not released.

A two-time All-American at Indian Hills, Buycks played two seasons at Marquette University in his hometown of Milwaukee, Wis., after leaving IHCC.  He was with Gravelines in the French Pro A league this past year, leading the team in scoring with 18.0 points and adding 3.2 rebounds and 2.9 assists.

His first season out of college, Buycks spent the year with the Tulsa 66ers of the NBA Development League and averaged 15.1 points, 2.7 rebounds and 2.6 assists.

A 2009 IHCC graduate, Buycks was a two-time first-team All-Region choice with the Warriors and was a first-team All-American after his sophomore season, adding to the honorable mention All-American honors he received as a freshman.

Buycks ended his career as one of the leading scorers in IHCC history, netting 1,254 points in two seasons.

Ex-Warrior Gets College Coaching Post

Chattanooga, Tenn. -- Former Indian Hills Community College basketball standout Johnny Taylor has been added to the coaching staff at Tennessee-Chattanooga.  Taylor played one season at IHCC after transferring from Knoxville (Tenn.) College and then two seasons at Chattanooga before embarking on a long professional career.

A native of Chattanooga, Taylor is 26 hours short of completing his degree in Criminal Justiec at his alma mater, where he played for the most successful team in school history.  He will be a student assistant coach during the upcoming season.

"It's an amazing opportunity," Taylor said.  "I am excited beyond words and very thankful to be able to finish my degree and get my foot in the door in the coaching profession."

Taylor was at Indian Hills for the 1994-95 campaign and became eligible to play for the Warriors at mid-season.  He averaged 19.3 points and 8.0 rebounds over the final 19 games and helped lead IHCC to a 31-3 record and to within one game of a trip to the national tournament.  He had nine games of 20 or more points, including six in a row.

From Indian Hills, Taylor went back to his hometown and he starred for the 1997 UTC squad that made the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament with Taylor leading the Mocs in scoring his senior year.

Chosen by Orlando as the 17th pick in the 1997 NBA Draft, Taylor played four seasons in the NBA and then 11 more seasons overseas with stints in countries such as Italy, Spain and Russia. 

Louisiana HS Star Comes to IHCC

OTTUMWA --- A former Louisiana high school athlete who had his high school basketball career cut short by an injury is coming to Indian Hills Community College to resume his hoops career.

J.R. Harris, 6’4” and 185 pounds, suffered a serious knee injury playing football his junior season at Redemptorist HS in Baton Rouge, La. and that forced him to miss his junior and senior basketball seasons.  Harris, a defensive back, tore his ACL in a mid-season game in the fall of 2011.

At the time, he was considered a potential college player in both football and basketball.  His former high school football coach said, “You can tell (J.R.) is the son of a coach.  There’s not a doubt in my mind that he could play either sport on the college level.”

Harris’ dad was a volunteer assistant women’s basketball coach at Southern University.

But it’s basketball where Harris has decided to make his mark.  And IHCC coach Barret Peery loves the way Harris plays the game and his effort to be a great player.  “J.R. is a long athlete that is very skilled,” Peery said.  “He is the prototype for the kind of player we like to have.  He has very good range with his shot and a very good feel for the game.”

The last time Harris played prep basketball was his sophomore season, when he averaged 19.8 points and 9.0 rebounds and was voted MVP of his district.  At that time, he played forward. 

Now two inches taller, Harris is expected to be a guard for the Warriors.