RETURN TO GLORY COULD BE TAYLOR-MADE HARVARD-WESTLAKE STAR HAS TEAM BIDDING FOR FIRST STATE TITLE SINCE '97.

Byline: Vincent Bonsignore Staff Writer

The second-to-last practice of the Harvard-Westlake of Studio City boys' basketball season ended Wednesday much like all the others have this year. Wolverines coach Greg Hilliard blew his whistle and the players circled around him to listen to his closing remarks.

Only this time Hilliard didn't need any words. He simply pointed to the two state-championship banners hanging on a wall inside the Harvard-Westlake High gym and told the Wolverines to take a good look.

The message was clear: That, gentlemen, is what you'll be playing for today against Foothill of Sacramento in the Div. III State Final at Arco Arena in Sacramento.

Harvard-Westlake junior guard Bryce Taylor, like his teammates standing beside him, studied the 1996 and 1997 championship banners just as he has a hundred of times before over the years.

Then he smiled.

``I was thinking it only seemed like yesterday me (and my teammates) were all running around at the (Harvard-Westlake) middle school together.'' Taylor said. ``Time sure goes by pretty fast.''

Fast and furious. Taylor was a sixth-grader when Harvard-Westlake - led by Jason and Jarron Collins - last won a state title. Now he's entrusted with restoring the Wolverines' glory. The 6-foot-4 shooting guard, a star surrounded by a deep, talented supporting cast, is averaging 26 points per game for a team that hasn't lost in nearly two months.

Taylor, the son of former NBA player Brian Taylor, is also one of the two best players in the region with Taft of Woodland Hills guard Jordan Farmar.

``When I look at him, I see (former Bell-Jeff of Burbank and current New Mexico standout) Ruben Douglas,'' said Gilbert Arenas Sr., who coaches Taylor's Pump N' Run travel ball team. ``The guy can flat-out put the ball in the basket. He knows how to score.''

Not a bad comparison considering Douglas led the nation in scoring this year.

But that's not all Taylor does, at least not anymore. Going into the season, he was thought of as a score-only player, but he's added a rugged defensive mindset and developed more of an unselfish approach offensively. That was never more evident than last Saturday during the Wolverines' Southern California regional final victory over Artesia of Lakewood. In that game, Taylor scored just 12 points but was still a key player with his passing, rebounding and defense.

Taylor, at the urging of Hilliard, has made a point of using the defensive pressure opponents direct at him to his advantage by getting the ball to open teammates, then reaping the benefits later in the game.

If the rest of the Wolverines (26-4) are making their shots - and guys like Ed White, Evan Harris and Jim Schook have been doing just that the past few weeks - it forces opponents to rethink their defense, thus freeing up Taylor.

But it wouldn't work if Taylor wasn't unselfish.

``That's the thing that makes me the most proud,'' Brian Taylor said. ``He's becoming a complete player, and he understands the game so well in terms of getting the ball to the right man and reading the defense. To see that development is very rewarding.''

The elder Taylor played college ball at Princeton, under legendary coach Pete Carril, and spent eight years in the NBA. Father and son are similar in many ways - both are cerebral, athletic guards who play above the rim. And Bryce, like his dad, has a chance to move on to college and maybe the NBA.

Although Brian Taylor gives Bryce room to formulate his own ideas based on his own experiences, he's also the first person Bryce turns to for advice.

Their talks figure to escalate over the next few months as Bryce begins focusing on where he'll play in college. Taylor is being heavily pursued by a number of schools and hopes to narrow his list to 10 by the beginning of summer.

Brian Taylor will play a major role in the process.

``He's definitely an asset because he's been through all the things I'm going through right now,'' Bryce Taylor said. ``I know I can talk to him about these things and he'll offer sound advice.''

Even when it comes to playing for a state title. Not that Bryce needs much advice: He and the Wolverines have been pointing to this moment from the very beginning of the season.

``That's been our goal from the start,'' Taylor said. ``We've been talking about this all year. And now we're here.''

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Photo:

(color) ``He's becoming a complete player, and he understands the game so well.'' - Brian Taylor, former NBA player, on son Bryce, pictured

Michael Owen Baker/Staff Photographer