Doubters are nothing new for Ray Taylor. As a 5’6” point guard, many assume him to be a harmless, non-threating player on the court before a game even begins.

“So many fans on the road disrespect him,” said Greg Gantt, his teammate. “They call him shorty all the time.”

But on a summer day in 2007, “shorty” answered his critics — with the help of a teammate.

That teammate was Kenny Boynton, who is now a starting point guard for the Florida Gators. There was an open run at Ely High School, Boynton’s home court at the time.

“A lot of scouts were there, but nobody knew who I was,” Taylor said. “The game was to 12 and he let me score all of the points.”

It would have been easy for Boynton to hog the spotlight on that day, but he knew Taylor deserved recognition for his talent.

Four years later, Ray Taylor is starting at point guard for FAU.

Taylor, who wears a size eight shoe, has had to overcome his size for as long as he can remember. Yet his motivation to succeed has never wavered.

The junior standout was a key contributor for the Owls last season, averaging 11.6 ppg and 3.9 assists, to go along with 1.5 steals a game.

In December of last season, he became the first Owl in nearly three years to be named Sun Belt Player of the Week. According to his teammates, his love for the game propels him to achieve greatness.

“Ray’s always in the gym working, looking to get better,” Gantt said.

Despite his success, Taylor believes there are areas of his game that need fixing.

“I would say my shooting needs to improve,” Taylor admitted. “It can be streaky at times. Also, my defense needs to tighten up.”

Taylor credits his quickness on both sides of the ball and his ability to beat his man to any spot on the court as his biggest strengths.

While growing up, Taylor looked up to point guards such as Steve Nash, Chauncey Billups and Chris Paul, but said that recently he has taken a particularly close interest in the game of 5’11” J.J. Barea from the Dallas Mavericks.

“I’ve studied his game and tendencies very much lately,” Taylor said. “Coach Jarvis feels I can learn and grow by watching him on tape.”

Throughout his career, Taylor has perfected a behind the back crossover, a deadly weapon that freezes his defenders and renders them helpless. The move was inspired by another Ray.

“I learned that move from watching Ray Allen do it in the movie He Got Game,” Taylor said. “I practiced it in the gym over time and added my own touch to it.”

As a point guard, Taylor understands the responsibility that comes with his position.

“I feel that the most important role of the point guard is to lead the team.” Taylor said. “You have to be an extension of the coach since he’s not out there with you.”

Running a basketball team has its share of ups and downs.

Conflicts between teammates will naturally arise over the course of a game, but appreciation for skill and a desire to win helps soothe these situations.

“Sometimes we don’t see eye to eye, but we talk about it and calm down,” Gantt said. “We’re both competitors and have respect for each other’s game.”

That respect was instilled by Taylor’s role model, his mother, to whom he is forever grateful.

“To be a single mother on welfare with two kids, I respect her strength,” Taylor said. “She never complained, even when times were tough.”

Taylor is a devout Christian, who credits his faith for both helping him achieve success and making him the man he is today.

“There’s always a passage in the Bible that people can relate to and help guide them in their life,” Taylor said. “I always say ‘To God be the Glory,’ because without Him I can’t accomplish anything.”

He even attends Spanish River Church with Coach Jarvis and some of his teammates. But even with his team by his side, Taylor knows his doubters are going nowhere. Not that it bothers him.

“It’s truly a blessing that FAU, a D-1 school, took a chance with me,” Taylor said. “It makes me extremely motivated to prove everyone wrong who doubted me along the way.”