RJ
Taylor

The Original Root

Mychael Covington was a bridge. A connection between a Division II past and a Division I future.

“Cov” was measured, methodical. A true floor general who controlled the pace, created space and knew how to dish a dime, whether to a high-flying Mike Helms on an alley-oop or out to Brad Buddenborg for an “of-course” triple.

Still ranking fourth in all-time assists with 514, more than 20 years after he suited up in the black and gold, Cov was the original root in the Oakland point guard family tree.

Point Guard U

Since then, Oakland has become a sort-of “Point Guard U,” producing 1s who could change a game with a dime or bring the O’Rena crowd to its feet with a long-distance three.

Mike Helms and Pierre Dukes were next. Helms wasn't really a true point guard, but he was arguably Oakland's first Division I superstar, averaging 26.9 points as a junior. Dukes was solid, and in 2005 he hit the biggest shot in program history, burying a corner three with 1.3 seconds left to beat Oral Roberts and send a 12-18 Oakland team to its first NCAA Tournament.

Then came Johnathon Jones, a four-year starter who left as Oakland's all-time assists leader with 819. In 2008-09, Jones led the country with more than eight assists per game while still finishing his career with 1,678 points.

Jones overlapped with the next branch, Reggie Hamilton, who took the position in a different direction. In 2011-12, Hamilton averaged 26.2 points to lead Division I in scoring. On an electric night at the O'Rena that season, he dropped 35 on Tennessee in front of a raucous crowd.

Including me.

Then Came Kay

For three years, fans didn't just come to see Oakland. They came to see Uncle Kay. And they arrived in time for warmups.

At 5-foot-9, Kay Felder would throw down dunks that didn't seem possible for someone his size. Once the ball went up, the show got even better. As a junior, Felder averaged 24.4 points and an absurd 9.3 assists, leading the nation in assists, finishing fourth in scoring and playing himself into the NBA Draft.

Ask 10 Oakland fans who the best player they've ever seen in a Golden Grizzlies uniform is, and you might get 10 votes for Kay.

But the tree kept growing.

Braden Norris offered a glimpse of the next branch, starting 30 games as a freshman and averaging 5.2 assists. One season was enough to see what Norris could become. It just wasn't enough time for him to become it at Oakland.

Then Jalen Moore took the floor. A transfer from Olney Central College, Moore made an immediate impact on the Grizzlies, leading NCAA Division I in assists in 2020–21, the third OU player to do so in a 12-year span. When it comes to the Oakland single-season assist leaderboard, Moore owns two of the top-five slots.

Then came Brody Robinson, by way of four other stops. He was dynamic, fearless and impossible not to notice. He played one season at Oakland and left fans wishing they'd gotten more.

But one year was enough for Brody to climb the tree.

Coming Home

Which brings us to RJ Taylor.

Except Taylor's branch started growing years ago.

Oakland wanted him when he was a sophomore at Grand Blanc. Taylor had just helped lead the Bobcats to the 2021 Division I state championship as a sophomore, beginning a high school career that would eventually make him a two-time first-team All-State selection.

There were connections, too. His father, Bob, coached women's basketball at Oakland. His mother, Kristen, played for OU.

The fit seemed obvious. The decision seemed obvious.

Taylor chose Northern Iowa.

He spent three seasons with the Panthers, but his career there took a detour eight games into the 2024–25 season when an Achilles tear ended his year.

Taylor returned last season still working his way back. By March, there were signs of the player he'd been before the injury. He scored 10 points off the bench in Northern Iowa's Missouri Valley semifinal win over Bradley, helping the sixth-seeded Panthers complete an unlikely run through Arch Madness and into the NCAA Tournament.

Now he's coming home.

And he's coming to an offense that should look considerably different from the one he left at Northern Iowa. Taylor wanted an opportunity to play faster and, in his final college season, show what he can do with the ball in his hands.

Kampe already seems convinced he fits.

In a recent Instagram breakdown, the Oakland coach described Taylor as the kind of player Oakland fans tend to embrace, particularly because of the way he competes.

“He's an Oakland player when you look at him,” Kampe said.

Taylor now gets one season to show everyone what that means.

Covington had four years. Jones had four. Felder and Moore had three.

Taylor gets one.

But Robinson showed us something last season.

Sometimes one is enough.

RJ Taylor has one year to take root.

Words by Air the Bear · October 3, 2026