Fortin having impressive senior campaign

February 21, 2013 Matt LaCoille

Tolland High School point guard Taylor Fortin continues to impress with his extremely high level of play during his senior season. The consistent point guard is averaging about 28 ppg to go along with 6 assists and 4 rebounds as his Tolland High School team is just one win away from qualifying for postseason play.

The Eagles got out to a fast 6-2 start, but the team struggled over the last month dropping to their current 7-13 record. Fortin played in integral part in Tolland’s playoff run last year only to be disappointed by a first round exit at the hands of Brookfield High School last winter. For Fortin right now, his goal is to focus on one thing only.

“To get that eighth win and make the playoffs,” said Fortin.

One of Fortin’s final regular season games consists of an 8-10 Rocky Hill High School team in which Fortin exploded for 29 points against in a victory back on January 10. His regular season finale comes against RHAM High School in Hebron, CT, in which Fortin absolutely dominated earlier in the season with 39 points to lead his team to victory. Fortin believes it is within the realm of possibility for him to lead his team far into postseason this year.

Fortin has already completed many individual accomplishments such as reaching the coveted 1,000 point milestone for his high school career as well as making numerous all-star teams.  After being ousted in the first round each of the last two years, Fortin and his team is yearning for one more crack at the postseason. 

Fortin’s 2011-2012 season was a strong beginning for the point guard as he assumed his role as a team leader during his junior campaign. Fortin saw a dramatic increase in minutes which led to the guard to put up over 400 points for the year averaging about 20 a game. Fortin this season has put up staggering numbers as his game has reached a whole new level. Not only has Fortin’s points per game increased dramatically from 20 to almost 29 a game, but the doses in which he is scoring have risen. Fortin thus far has ten games with 25 points or more and even eclipsed the 35 point mark four times this season.

One reason for Fortin’s increasing success is the developmental of the consistency of his three point shot as well as his shot overall. Over the course of his junior and senior season, Fortin’s three point percentage has jumped to a profound 41% from beyond the arc. Fortin’s field goal percentage in general has also climbed to nearly 50% during his senior season. Despite Fortin’s noticeable improvement in his shot, Fortin is not content just yet.

“Everyone can improve on their shot,” said Fortin when asked about what he could improve on for the next level.

In addition to his shot, Fortin wishes to grow stronger and bulk up and improve his quickness when he goes to the next level.

Fortin has developed into a strong court leader and what he wants coaches to know about him is that he is just that.

“I am a hard-nosed, old-school point guard that can get into the lane and finish,” said Fortin.

Fortin says he has focused on making his teammates better on and off the court by being a team leader and knows he can contribute far past the X’s and O’s of the game.

Fortin contributes much of his success to his father and mother, who have helped guide Taylor through all his years of basketball.

“My dad Thomas Fortin and my mother Tish Fortin have helped me out a lot,” said Fortin about those who have been important in his success.

Fortin also credits great former High School and AAU coaches such as Steve Tozier and Katie DaCosta in which helped shape Fortin to the player he is today.

Fortin has decided to spend next year at the prep school level to try to take his game to the next level, but has yet to officially decide his destination. Fortin added that Wilbraham & Monson Academy in Wilbraham, MA, would be his ideal choice for next year.

“I believe I can really improve all aspects of my game at a prep school before I decide on a college,” said Fortin of his decision to take another year to progress his level of play.

Fortin has been hit hard on the recruiting trail gaining tons of interest from multiple Division II and Division III schools but states that no school has officially offered to him as of yet. A few of the schools at the Division II level such as University of New Haven, St. Anslem College, and Assumption College have reached out to Fortin thus far.

“I am very open-minded about it all…some coaches that I have talked to believe I can play low level Division I or Division II so I’m just going to try and get better,” said Fortin.

Fortin, hoping to major in Communications, believes that the school has to be a good fit for him personally first, but also believes that his relationship with his future coach will be very vital to where he decides to go in the future. With Taylor Fortin’s work ethic and his strong goals, he is destined for success wherever the ball will take him.

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