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THE MESA TRIBUNE | JUNE 13, 2021
TheMesaTribune.com @EVTNow /EVTNow
Red Mtn alum ful�illing dream of working in sports BY ZACH ALVIRA AFN Sports Editor
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icole Taylor has accomplished many sports-related feats since her pre-teen years. She became the �irst-ever junior high student to make the varsity girls’ basketball roster at Red Mountain High School. She’s helped manage the Arizona State women’s basketball program and coordinated a variety of events for the Phoenix Mercury, Suns and the NBA. She knew early on she wanted to dive into a career involving sports and more speci�ically, basketball. But even having after accomplished all she has so far in life, it still is a bit of a surprise when she re�lects on her experiences. “From the age of 5, I was very passionate about basketball,” Taylor said. “I didn’t know how I would end up working with it, but I knew it was something I always wanted to get involved in and make a career out of it.”
Taylor, 34, graduated from Red Mountain in 2005 as a four-year varsity basketball player. She began playing AAU competitive basketball when she began attending Shepherd Junior High in Mesa. Through various camps and club teams, then-Red Mountain girls’ basketball coach Martin Appel requested she join the varsity team earlier than most. She knew she would be attending Red Mountain and eventually playing basketball for the Mountain Lions. But it came as a surprise to her and her parents when she was asked to do so as she entered the ninth grade. At the time, Red Mountain served sophomores, juniors and seniors. Freshman still took classes at Shepherd. “It de�initely took some balance on mine and my parents’ part,” Taylor said. “My dad, who worked at Boeing in Mesa at the time, would have to end his day early to pick me up from Shepherd and drive me over to Red Mountain for practice.” Taylor played four years for the Moun-
Red Mountain alum Nicole Taylor has already accomplished several goals in her quest to make a career out of basketball. She’s worked for both the Phoenix Suns and Mercury, the NBA and now Position Sports in Mesa while raising her two kids with her husband and fellow Red Mountain alum, EJ. (Courtesy Nicole Taylor)
tain Lions and went through the recruit- Because of the avenue I took I was able to ing process her senior year to continue pursue this career in sports that may not her career at the next level. However, her have come about otherwise.” academics also led her to receive a full acWhile working for the NBA, Taylor reademic scholarship to Arizona State. kindled an old friendship with EJ Taylor, She made the dif�icult decision to end a former Red Mountain basketball player her basketball career to focus on earning a who was a broadcaster at the time. The degree in communications at ASU. Just like two eventually married and now have she did at Shepherd and Red Mountain, two kids. EJ now works as an accountant. Taylor ended her career with the NBA Taylor left her mark. Charli Turner Thorne, the head wom- in 2011. She quickly realized her desire en’s basketball coach for the Sun Devils, to settle down and have a family wouldn’t knew Taylor from her AAU club team. She offered her a spot as a manager with the ��� TAYLOR ���� 25 team. Taylor also helped create the Sports Business Association through the W.P. Carey School of Business, which she still serves on the advisory board. Her college years were also met with opportunities with the two local professional basketball franchises. She interned for the Phoenix Mercury and the Suns before she was one of six selected out of more than 2,000 applicants to be part of the NBA’s associate program. She worked in various departments at the NBA league of�ice in New York as part of the program and helped facilitate major events such as preseason games overseas, the draft and All-Star games. “I think it was really tough for my parents when I stepped away from playing, especially because of how much Taylor became the first-ever junior high student to play at the time and money they put varsity level at a high school. At the time, ninth grade classes into it,” Taylor said. “But, were still held at Shepherd Junior High and she drove to Red it’s cliché, but everything Mountain for practices and games during the season. (Courtesy happens for a reason. Nicole Taylor)
