by By Dan Ninham (Oneida)
“I play basketball for the Lapwai HS Wildcats,” said Kross Taylor. “My position is shooting guard. This past year in basketball I was blessed to be able to start for my team as a sophomore.”
Kross Taylor, 16, is enrolled in the Yakama Tribe, and he also is a descendant of the Nez Perce Tribe.
Kross’ parents’ are Rhonda and Emmit Taylor Jr. and their family lives in Lapwai, ID.
“Kross is the youngest son of the family along with his older brothers Dakota and Emmit and his little sister Rhoni,” said mother Rhonda Taylor. “Kross works hard on and off the basketball court. He has a 3.45 GPA and participates in Business Professionals of America (BPA) and Future Farmers of America (FFA), a member of the Yearbook and is a highly valued concessions employee, who works the games he isn’t participating in.”
“Kross is a dependable hard worker, who is compassionate but is very competitive. Kross shares his older brother Emmit’s desire to play at the highest level in basketball, and I believe he will obtain his goal by continuing to work hard in the classroom and the court,” added Rhonda.
“My brother Emmit Taylor III has been a huge influence in my life from how to dress to how to improve myself in life and basketball,” said Kross. “My brother is a two-time State basketball champion at Lapwai HS and played basketball two years at North Idaho Junior College (NIC) in Coeur d’Alene, ID. My brother is also a shooting guard and while at NIC has broken the record for most 3’s in one game at 12 and second in scoring at 46. He is continuing his basketball career at Idaho State University in Pocatello, Idaho this fall.”
“When Kross was in eighth grade he was playing in a basketball tournament and he had made 10 three pointers in one game,” said big brother Emmit Taylor III. “I knew after that Kross would become a big time shooter at a young age.”
“Another attribute that Kross has as an athlete is that he loves to compete and always wants to win at everything. If it’s a basketball game or a chore at the house, Kross always wants to win and prove to me he’s better than me. I tell him almost everyday to be better than me and to work hard so that he can experience basketball at the highest level. I also tell him he has the potential to experience that, he just needs to put the work in and his time will come.”
“My high school coach, Zachary Eastman, has been there for me from the second he got hired,” said Kross. “I am very fortunate in that I have several friends and teammates that I played with almost my entire life, and they are also sophomores. Although we are young, he saw something in us and took a chance on us starting five sophomores. I love him as a coach and a friend and look up to him because he has pushed me to do better than anyone could have. He influences me because he is someone that I look up to as a player, coach, and person.”
“Kross played his sophomore 2020 season with the Lapwai HS WildCats,” said Zachary Eastman, head varsity boys’ basketball coach. “Kross is 6”3 combo guard that has the ability to shoot it from deep but also developing off the dribble game. His height and strength gives him the ability to guard anyone, and can help start the fast break with his rebounding ability.”
“Kross is a duel threat on the court. He is a great student athlete and any college coach would love to have a kid like Kross to play for him. He always is striving to get better. He is still growing and maturing as a basketball player and the sky is the limit for Kross,” added Zachary.
“During our last game last season against Potlatch in the state third place game there were 30 seconds left in the first half we are down by two points,” said Zachary. “Kross steals the balls goes full court, and as I yell ‘last shot!’ he shoots a deep three and it’s nothing but net and we go up by one point at halftime. He looked at me and said ‘Let’s go coach.’ The coaching staff just laughed and said ‘just like we practice coach!’ We had a good laugh, but it was the confidence in himself and the mindset that he wanted to win and will do whatever he can for his teammates that I admire as a coach.”
“I earned Second Team All Whitepine League and First Team All- State,” said Kross. “I received the Potlatch Federal Credit Union PREP Athlete of the Week award and was interviewed by our local TV news station. I also play football that I enjoy very much and start at the wide receiver and safety positions.”
“With the coronavirus I’ve been staying home as much as possible,” said Kross. “I still work out at least four times a week lifting weights and running our hill behind our house. I work out with my cousin and we push each other. With the benefit of having a court outside my house I shoot around at least six times a week. I’ve been really trying to improve all aspects of my game, and of course my shot.”
“After each workout I read the book called ‘Relentless’ and it’s about this trainer who worked with Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, and Dwayne Wade. The trainer writes about how they were able to accomplish what they did in their career by pushing themselves. Also, on a daily basis I watch highlights from all different players and a lot of different games.
“I go to the sweat house with my dad where we have good prayers,” said Kross. “At sweat, I am able to get good advice on my game and encouragement from my many uncles and most of them are my dad’s good friends and brothers and are my uncles in the Indian way.”
“I am very passionate about basketball and my game,” said Kross. “I play basketball all year and I also try to play on AAU teams so I can play against the best competition I possibly can. Last summer I played for the North Idaho Elite AAU basketball team and was able to play in Las Vegas against some very good teams. Just recently I tried out and was able to make the Idaho Select AAU basketball team and they do a circuit in the spring and summer in Seattle, Los Angeles, Las Vegas and Boise, Idaho. Playing against the best competition really helps me during the high school season. Even during football I’ll be outside working on my game.”
“Someone asked me what is so special about my class of sophomores,” said Kross. “I concluded that we have endured hardship at an early age and overcame adversity. Our classmate, teammate and brother, Michael Bisbee III (BB), tragically passed away when we were in third grade. He played with such passion and heart up until his passing. We feel he is with us everyday, especially when we play ball, so we play for him. We stay close to each other as friends and classmates, we are forever tied to his family and we play for him because he wouldn’t want us to play without each other. We’ll honor him by playing the game we love. Even though he’s not here physically, he’s here with all of us spiritually always.”
Photo Credit: IdahaSports.com
