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Houston Rockets General Manager Daryl Morey announced today that the team has signed rookie guard Jermaine Taylor to a multi-year contract. The Houston Chronicle reports that the deal is worth $3.33 million over four years, with the first two years guaranteed and a team option on the third and fourth seasons.
Taylor, who was selected by Washington out of Central Florida in the second round (32nd overall) of the 2009 NBA Draft, had his rights acquired by the Rockets from the Wizards in exchange for cash considerations on June 25, 2009.
Taylor (6-4, 210, Central Florida) totaled 1,979 points and a school-record 251 3-pointers (.376, 251-668 3FG) over his four-year career at Central Florida, finishing as UCF’s career scoring leader at the Division I level. He also ranked fourth on the Conference USA career scoring list. As a senior, Taylor was named the C-USA Player of the Year and earned All-Conference USA First Team honors. Taylor was also selected All-District by the NABC and USBWA, as well as earning All-Tournament Team honors at the 2009 Portsmouth Invitational. Overall, he scored a school-record 812 points during his senior campaign and ranked third nationally in scoring (26.2 ppg, .480 FG%, .376 3FG%, .812 FT%). Taylor also averaged 29.1 points against league opponents and set the C-USA single-season record by notching 466 points in conference play. He scored at least 20 points in 24 of his 31 games, including nine 30-point performances and one 40-point contest. He connected on 92 3-pointers in 2008-09, which ranked fourth on the school’s single-season chart. Taylor also led the team in rebounds per game (5.2) and blocked shots (24), while ranking third on the team in total assists (58) and second in steals (39). His outstanding play earned him C-USA Player of the Week honors on five occasions during his final collegiate campaign. He also established a UCF Division I single-game record with 45 points vs. Rice (2/25/09).
As a junior, Taylor earned All-Conference USA Second Team selection after leading UCF in scoring with 20.8 points per game. He appeared in all 31 games as a reserve during his sophomore campaign, ranking second on the team and 16th in Conference USA in points per game (12.7). Taylor was also a Conference USA Commissioner’s Academic Honor Roll recipient as a freshman.
With Houston in the 2009 NBA Summer League, Taylor averaged 11.0 points and 2.3 assists in four games (two starts).
