AUGUSTA, Ga. – Having been a major reason for one of the best seasons in program history, Clayton State senior forward Jaylen Taylor (Hephzibah, Ga.) continues to rake in the honors as he has been named to the 2018 All-Peach Belt Conference Preseason Team as announced by the league on Tuesday, October 30.
 
A select squad that includes just five players, Taylor becomes only the third Laker, but the second in three years, to be named to the team since its inception prior to the 2007-08 season. He joins former All-American Brandon Robinson who was selected to the 2010-11 team and former teammate Alfonso Davis, who earned a spot on the 2016-17 team.
 
Also named to the team this season are Doniel Dean (USC Aiken), Akia Pruitt (UNC Pembroke), R.J. Sessions (Georgia Southwestern) and Deane Williams (Augusta).
 
A force in the post, Taylor has already been named a Division II Bulletin Preseason All-American Honorable Mention heading into this season. Last year he put up impressive numbers, finishing with averages of 12.6 points, 8.1 rebounds and 1.0 steals. Additionally he scored in double figures 20 times, including a career game of 29 points, 15 boards and three steals at Flagler (2/10).
 
It was performances like that that earned him All-PBC First-Team honors and led Clayton State back to the NCAA Division II Tournament for the first time in a decade. There they notched a 75-69 win over Carson-Newman (3/10) to advance to the Southeast Region Semifinals.
 
Taylor and Clayton State enter the 2018-19 season ranked No. 20 by the Division II Bulletin. They'll open up the exhibition portion of the season at Division I Kennesaw at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, November 1 before heading to Aiken, South Carolina for the 2018 SAC/PBC Challenge from November 9-10.
 
2018 All-Peach Belt Conference Preseason Men's Basketball Team
Doniel Dean, USC Aiken
Akia Pruitt, UNC Pembroke
R.J. Sessions, Georgia Southwestern
Jaylen Taylor, Clayton State
Deane Williams, Augusta
 
All-Time All-Peach Belt Conference Preseason Men's Basketball Team Selections (3)
2018-19
Jaylen Taylor
 
2016-17
Alfonso Davis
 
2010-11
Brandon Robinson