Kanyon Taylor — 6’9 Stretch Forward | Class of 2026 | Valley High School (TX)

In this One-Eyed Scout Watchlist interview, we sit down with Kanyon Taylor to talk about his development as a modern frontcourt player, the work behind his 4.0 GPA, and what it meant to help Valley High School win its first Texas State Championship in program history.

At 6’9 with perimeter skill, Taylor represents the type of versatile forward college programs are constantly searching for — a player who can stretch the floor, create mismatches, and impact winning basketball.

During this conversation we break down:

• How Kanyon Taylor describes his game
 • The role of the modern stretch forward in college basketball
• Lessons from winning a Texas State Championship
• The discipline behind maintaining a 4.0 GPA as a student-athlete
• How he’s approaching the Class of 2026 recruiting process
• What college coaches should know about his development

If you follow Texas high school basketball, recruiting, or emerging frontcourt prospects, this is a player you’ll want to know early.

Player: Kanyon Taylor
Position: Stretch Forward
Height: 6’9
Class: 2026
High School: Valley High School (TX)
Club: BYC NXT 17U
Academics: 4.0 GPA

This interview is part of the One-Eyed Scout Watchlist, where we spotlight players whose habits, development, and winning impact translate to the next level.

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https://youtu.be/SjLU5pWokes

 Shoutout to The Brunch Spot in Converse — great food, great people, and always showing love to the game. This is The One-Eyed Scout Show, and remember — it ain’t for everybody. 

Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:30

All right, today we're sitting down with 6'9 stretch forward, Kanya Taylor, newly minted state champion, first time for his school. And uh hey man, I I appreciate you being uh being on here today.

SPEAKER_01 0:46

Uh yeah, so thank you for having me.

SPEAKER_00 0:48

You know, you got a unique uh combination of good coaches attention, size, skill, but uh most pressed with the academics. Yeah, so so what's it mean to for you to get your uh the first state championship for the school?

SPEAKER_01 1:06

I mean, it just means a lot because we were here like last year we were here and we came up just one game short. So this year to get it done, it just means a lot for the just to get it for the community and just also show the kids at our school that I mean you can do it at Valley, it doesn't have to be somewhere else.

SPEAKER_00 1:21

Yeah, I know I uh I saw a picture, it was a lot of people uh gathered around, so I imagine it's a pretty good uh community feeling. But you know, for people who haven't seen you play yet, how would you describe your game?

SPEAKER_01 1:39

I'd kind of say on defense, I feel like I'm a good defensive anchor. I can jump, block shots, and then on offense, I feel like I'm a good, good modern forward, a stretch big who can shoot along with do the inside things when necessary. And also for my size, I think I move good and play above the rim a little bit.

SPEAKER_00 1:57

You know, uh and looking over your uh your offer list is kind of all over the place. I guess it's picked up more as the season as the playoffs continue. Yeah, so um at 6'9, playing a stretch forward, how do you use your size to create advantages?

SPEAKER_01 2:19

I feel like it's just kind of helpful because if I'm in a picket roll and I pop, it just I can shoot over, I feel comfortable shooting over anybody. Like their contest really doesn't it doesn't affect me. So it's always my fault if I miss a shot. It's never because they played good defense, and then it just helps around the rim, being able to finish over smaller defenders and punish mismatches. And then on defense, it's I feel like it helps my team big because I can jump up and block shots and grab rebounds and just add overall size to the floor without slowing down the pace of play.

SPEAKER_00 2:48

So, what do you think is your strongest facet of your game right now?

SPEAKER_01 2:52

I'd say right now it's probably shot blocking or oh, I think I could shoot, I think shot blocking and shooting the I can shoot the ball pretty well as well. And also just move moving around. I feel like overall, just like the movement my game has along with the shot blocking and ability to knock down an outside shot and like pick and pop situations or spot up.

SPEAKER_00 3:15

You know, when uh when coaches watch your film, what do you want them to notice first?

SPEAKER_01 3:21

I hope they notice my motor first and just how hard I work and just the energy I play with because I try and bring energy to every game and just lift everyone up and just kind of keep the vibes overall positive and just keep the energy up and just do whatever for the team to win.

SPEAKER_00 3:36

You know, uh how important do you is it for you to be able to stretch the floor offensively for your team?

SPEAKER_01 3:45

I think it's huge because I mean it makes them have to be honest. So they can't just leave a dude at the three-point line. It's another dude they have to worry about stretching the floor past 20 feet. So I think it's real big and it just helps with spacing and overall just makes the job a lot easier for the point guards.

SPEAKER_00 4:03

How long have you been working on your perimeter skills as a taller player, you know, now you're six foot nine?

SPEAKER_01 4:10

Mm-hmm. I mean, I've always been working on it. I've always thought, like growing up, I always thought the bigs who can shoot threes were the coolest, like the Christoph's Porzingis or kind of Kevin Durant type bigs. I just always thought they were the coolest. So I've been working on it for a while and it's finally starting to show a little bit.

SPEAKER_00 4:26

You know, what parts of the modern forward position are you still trying to develop or want to add to your game?

SPEAKER_01 4:34

I think I'm still trying to, I mean, it's not necessarily a forward skill, but it's just a general skill. I'm still trying to work on ball handling. But then the traditional forward skills I feel like I need to get better at is kind of the back to the basket stuff and kind of being a little more physical because at times I feel like I'm just just a hair passive and just not quite as physical as I should be at times.

SPEAKER_00 4:53

You know, uh, you already talked about being uh one game short last year. But uh, you know, winning a state championship is always a big deal. Winning the first one's a bigger deal. You know, what does that experience mean to you and how how you carry it forward?

SPEAKER_01 5:09

Oh, it's just huge. I mean, it's always been a goal of mine since I was little, so it kind of just shows like if you put in the work for your goals, you can do it no matter how big or far-fetched it may seem. And it's just a great feeling to know that my last valley game will be a win. So it's just it's just huge.

SPEAKER_00 5:25

You know, we talked a little bit about getting to play with your brother. How how is that special for you?

SPEAKER_01 5:30

It's real special because I mean we're both similar players, but I feel like he's a little bit we both bring different things to the table, and it's just super special because I mean, we've always been talking about how cool it'd be to win a state championship together, and just I feel like our games also just complement each other greatly, and it's just not everyone gets to play with their brother and win a state championship with them.

SPEAKER_00 5:49

You know, we talk about um the preparation that went into this. You talked about how you work hard for your goals and you can accomplish, but how much motivation does this give you to keep pushing forward at the next level?

SPEAKER_01 6:03

Oh, it definitely gives me a ton of motivation because I see that I mean I've been working for this for a while, so just imagine what I could do with another four more years of development and hard work. I just feel like the sky is really the limit. And I feel like I could go do great things at the next level, and I hope to bring a winning culture with me wherever I go.

SPEAKER_00 6:22

So uh, you know, you're rocking at 4.0. It takes discipline, you know. But how do you balance both basketball training and school?

SPEAKER_01 6:33

And I feel like it's never really been a struggle for me because my family's kind of just raised me to always school's really first. So I mean, it's good grades before anything, and then it's really just school and basketball, just don't let any of the outside distractions really take effect on me and just kind of just keep my priorities straight. And I feel like it kind of just all fell into place, and I'm kind of blessed with the God-given ability to be able to like kind of soak in knowledge a little easier than most. I feel like.

SPEAKER_00 6:59

What do you uh what do you want coaches to know about your approach in school?

SPEAKER_01 7:04

I want them to know that I take I take it very seriously, like I don't take it lightly at all. I know that I'm there to be a student athlete, not just an athlete. So they're gonna get a good person on and off the court and someone that they won't have to worry about getting into trouble or not doing what they should.

SPEAKER_00 7:18

Are there specific habits that you you you have as far as school?

SPEAKER_01 7:24

I mean, I would just say doing the work as soon as I get it, just getting it done and not procrastinating, and then just I mean, really just paying attention all the time. As simple, as silly as it might sound, I feel like it's just a little thing to make a big difference, like just showing up every day and putting the work in.

SPEAKER_00 7:40

So as we get into the recruiting and the future, as is you know coming fast and hard, uh, what type of program do you feel fits your game best?

SPEAKER_01 7:51

I feel like a program that really, really strong on development, has a good winning culture, and just someone that kind of plays a little quicker because I feel like that suits my game well. And just overall, just a really solid program that's had that's done it before, so it's not gonna be anything new to them. And I can just kind of step in and grow behind some dudes and then step in when I'm called upon.

SPEAKER_00 8:13

You know, uh what area to your game are you focused on improving in the transition between high school and college?

SPEAKER_01 8:21

I'd really say ball handling and the back to the basket stuff, like I said earlier, and then also the jump from high school to college is it's really big physically, and I've seen that. So I'm really focused on getting strong, quicker, stronger, faster over this summer. So that'll help my game translate great, I feel like.

SPEAKER_00 8:39

You know, you mentioned uh KD and and Christian Corzinhas, you know, what what motivates you to keep getting better every day? Are those kind of like your uh God idols?

SPEAKER_01 8:51

I mean, I don't have any idols. It's just I I really respect what they do, I love the way they play, and it's just I think it's fun to get better. Like I've always been someone, if I do something, I want to be the best I can at it. Like I'm not gonna, I'm not gonna have to anything. Like, even whenever it comes like something as simple as like video games, I'm gonna be the best I can at it. So that's why I kind of stay away from them. But yeah, you know, I just I find joy in just the little improvements and just day-to-day, like stacking days and just getting that much better.

SPEAKER_00 9:18

Hey man, I appreciate you getting on here, Kenyon Taylor, 6'9 stretch forward, class of 26, Valley High School from the Panhandle in Texas. Hey man, I appreciate you getting on here. Go enjoy your time with your family.

SPEAKER_01 9:31

Yes, sir. Thanks for having me. Yes, sir. Thanks for getting on. Yes, sir.