It should be no surprise that Taelor Karr chose Kansas State.
During her high school career, the second-team all-state guard from Paola wanted a program that was a proven winner and had an experienced coaching staff.
Karr's decision came down to K-State and the University of Kansas.
"The whole way through, K-State was right there with me," the freshman said Thursday. "It came down to KU and K-State and I just chose the better atmosphere and better coaching staff."
It's part of a pattern that has proven successful for the KSU women's basketball program. Coach Deb Patterson is clearly familiar with the talent across this state as some of the program's best has come from the Wildcats' own backyard.
The Wildcats just lost two of those players from a year ago in Shalee Lehning and Marlies Gipson, home-state products from Sublette and McPherson who etched their names throughout the K-State record books.
Again, Karr's arrival in Manhattan, should be no surprise.
"I love kids that have part of the character that is to me, Kansas — it's special." Patterson said. "We are constantly looking for those kind of players in our program."
Two games into Big 12 play and Karr is already making a name for herself as yet another successful Kansas kid at K-State.
After starting the season at point guard, Karr made the switch to shooting guard toward the end of the nonconference slate.
It's a strategy that has already paid big dividends for the Wildcats, who travel to Stillwater, Okla., on Saturday to face No. 15 Oklahoma State.
"I think the growth in Taelor in understanding that we need her to be a scorer, we need her to not pass up shots, and her willingness to become a little more aggressive in areas we have challenged her in, is huge." Patterson said. "It's made all of us better."
Karr is coming off one of her best performances of the season during the Wildcats' 65-50 win at Missouri on Wednesday when she tallied 15 points on 6-of-12 shooting, while making 3-5 from behind the arc.
Karr is averaging 12.5 points and 6.0 rebounds a game during the Wildcats' two conference games — both wins.
"I'm feeling more comfortable," Karr said. "Every game out, I'm getting more and more comfortable. My shot is going in right now, and my team is finding me."
Karr's growth process is taking place as the Wildcats have strung together their longest win streak of the season, now sitting at six games.
"The whole season has definitely been a growing process," Karr said. "We are young, but non-conference was big for us to just mature and create more chemistry as a team."
While it is still early in her freshman season, Karr has already proven she has the potential to be yet another character in KSU's success story of home-grown talent.
But for now, Karr said she's focused on doing what she needs to do to prove the Cats' conference start is no fluke.
"We know what we are capable of," she said. "We want to go out and surprise a lot of people. We think we can win any game."
Photo- The Manhattan Mercury
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