Ex-Cyclone Taylor D-veloping new path to NBA

But it should be noted that for all Caracter's problems, Taylor's issues were probably greater considering he was repeatedly arrested (for theft, criminal mischief, etc.) while at Iowa State. That's what led to his dismissal.

But rather than disappear forever as a relevant basketball player, Taylor landed in the D-League, seemingly matured, avoided trouble and reinvented himself as a serious prospect before showing up at the Pre-Draft Camp looking better prepared than anybody.

Credit his 39 games in the D-League as the reason.

"In the D-League you get used to playing the NBA style and you get used to playing against a higher-caliber player, guys who have been in the professional game or overseas," Taylor explained. "You're playing against a higher-caliber player than just a regular college player, and it helped me a lot at the Pre-Draft Camp, just the familiarity with everything we did.

"All the drills we went through are drills I'm familiar with. All the sets we did were basically the sets we had in Idaho. So everything was familiar, from the biggest things to the littlest things, like defending the sets we were going through.

"The drills at the Pre-Draft Camp were like a walkthrough before a game in the D-League. I've defended those plays and sets every day in the D-League. So I didn't have to worry about whether I should be in this spot or that spot or memorize the plays like the other guys did. I already knew them. That helped."

And it showed.

"Just being around somebody like (veteran point guard) Randy Livingston in Idaho and learning from him was a great thing for Mike," said Curtis Weathers, Taylor's former AAU coach.

"Plus, that's all he's been doing is playing basketball. He's spent more hours a week (than the average college player over the past year) shooting and learning. It's been his job. And I know for a fact that it helped him at the Pre-Draft Camp."

Consider that before the Pre-Draft Camp, Taylor said he had "a few" NBA teams interested.

Now, the number is around 15.

"The way I've gone about this is definitely unconventional," Taylor said. "I'm like the founder of this way to get to the NBA."

A regular Christopher Columbus, he is.

So if you're reading this, Derrick Caracter, it's clear you still have a chance.

Go to the D-League.

Grow up.

Stop being stupid.

Start being productive.

Put a Mike Taylor poster on your wall.

And try to follow his unconventional path, one step at a time.