, PA - La Salle University sophomore Marshall Taylor (Philadelphia, PA/West Catholic) has announced that he will leave the men's basketball team immediately.

 

Taylor, who became eligible in the second semester of the 2005-06 season after transferring from Siena College, had his first and only season of collegiate ball abbreviated when he suffered a burst appendix in mid-January.

 

"I feel that since my appendix burst I haven't really been able to get fully healthy," stated the forward who averaged 5.4 points and 2.1 rebounds in 13 games.  His final appearance came in the Explorers' dramatic 79-70 win over Xavier - the Explorers first ever win at the Musketeers' Cintas Center. "I lost a lot of weight, then I got weaker, and then I just stopped loving the game.  Right now I feel like I can't help the team.  I can only hurt it."

 

Coach Giannini pointed out that Taylor was a positive factor in the Explorers' impressive 18-10 campaign, "Marshall helped our team win some important games last year and I was counting on him for the future.  However, I could tell for some time that his priorities were changing, " said the third-year head coach.  "I certainly support Marshall and feel it is in the best interest for everyone involved."