Freshman Taylor has Rainbow Wahine flying high

By Ann Miller
Advertiser Staff Writer

UH's Janevia Taylor drove on Maine's Monica Peterson on Nov. 23. Gregory Yamamoto • The Honolulu Advertiser WAC women WHO: HAWAI'I (5-11, 3-4) vs. Rice (9-7, 6-1), 7 p.m. tonight; HAWAI'I vs. Tulsa (11-6, 4-3), 7 p.m. Saturday WHERE: Stan Sheriff Center TICKETS: $7 adults, $6 senior citizens, students and children free PARKING: $3 TV/RADIO: Live on KFVE (5) and 1420 AM

Taylor took over as the starting point guard when the Western Athletic Conference season started. Her game has grown dramatically as the first half dribbles to a close tonight against Rice and Saturday against Tulsa.

Taylor never contemplated college basketball until her San Bernardino (California) High School coach, Paul Akahoshi, brought it up. Hawai'i was one of the first schools to pursue her.

She and her mother, Joy McClendon, who lived in Waikiki as a child, were immediately hooked. Hawai'i promised balmy weather, an emphasis on education and the opportunity to play, a lot, for a team in massive transition.

But both feared flying. Janevia's first flight was her official visit. The second was when she left home for good. That flight was delayed 12 hours. Janevia and her mother spent a large percentage of that time talking to UH assistant coach Da Houl, who recruited Janevia, and coaches the guards.

"One of the scariest moments of my life," Houl recalled. "She's telling me, 'I don't want to get on the plane. My mom said I shouldn't. I'm afraid something might happen.' She was so scared.

"I told her I'd been traveling a long time. They wouldn't let her get on the plane if it wasn't safe. The bottom line is I told her it's OK and she made the choice because she made the commitment to be a part of our family."

That was the first step to starting. The rest has been a mad rush.

"We have never had to tell her to go faster or go harder," Houl says. "She came with her basketball game. You have to tone her down, which is much better than trying to make her quicker."

Taylor worked her way into the starting lineup despite a shooting slump she shed with a 16-point performance against then-No. 12 Louisiana Tech. In Hawai'i's last game she went for 18 in the first half at frigid Boise State.

She finished as the fourth UH freshman in a decade to score 20, joining honorable mention All-Americans Nani Cockett and Raylene Howard, and Chelsea Wagner. The victory was the 'Bows' second on the road this season.

Taylor is no savior. Hawai'i, the fourth-youngest team in the country, could finish with its first losing record in nine years.

"I didn't expect it was going to be easy," Taylor says. "I expected hard work and dedication and opponents coming at us, but when you look at our team in practice, some of these games I didn't expect to lose. But, it happens."

With her infectious energy and sweet smile she has helped UH in areas that cannot be coached. Basketball has been the easiest transition for her to make.

Learning to play in a structured offense is nothing compared to finding a hair salon she likes.

"With (coach) Vince (Goo), you have to run his offense," Taylor says. "But actually, I sort of like this offense. It gives everybody equal opportunity so I'm pretty cool."

Starting came quicker than pronouncing street names. Taylor will only attempt "King, University and Kapi'olani."

She discovered she was starting the night it happened. She believed it came about because of hard work, a better understanding and improved focus. Houl says it was all about the energy Taylor brought to her teammates.

"It's beautiful," Houl says, "when she gets them all going."

Reach Ann Miller at amiller@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8043.