How Distance and Dedication Shaped Taylor Eldredge’s Game

2.5 Minute Read

By: Andrea Aruino

Basketball may not be the first thing you think of when you hear about Hawaii, but for Taylor Eldredge it’s where her love for the sport first took root. Taylor Eldredge experienced this firsthand as she grew up in Maui. Although the basketball scene is not as apparent as it is on the mainland, this didn’t stop Eldredge from pursuing her dreams of playing basketball, even if it was just for fun. She began playing at the age of five playing in recreational leagues and leaning into the competitiveness that basketball brought her. At such a young age, she knew that she wanted to play basketball for as long as she could. 

Eldredge’s journey wasn’t the typical route due to location. It wasn’t as easy to drive to tournaments or fly, the island felt almost isolated from the booming basketball scene in other states. This barrier made it harder for her to be recruited since it required more money to travel in and out of the mainland and many recruiters didn’t think of Hawaii first when traveling to scout. Despite these challenges, she spent her time travelling with her AAU team even if it meant hours on hours of flights. After graduating Lahainaluna high school, Eldredge found herself playing at Shoreline Junior College in Washington which eliminated the obstacle of having to travel from Hawaii to the mainland. 

As the guard continued to develop her game, she started seeing more eyes on her, especially from Cal State East Bay who began to heavily recruit her. Knowing she wanted to improve her skills at different levels, committing to East Bay was a no brainer. Especially since one of her teammates from Shoreline had also committed to Cal State East Bay a year prior to her. Having that connection at East Bay was a pushing factor in playing there due to a strong bond they shared on and off the court. Her first year at East Bay as a Pioneer was full of success, she averaged 11.1 points per game and 5.1 rebounds per game. On top of her notable averages during her first season, she was second in rebounds and third in scoring for the team. 

The coaching staff at Cal State East Bay welcomed her with open arms and were ready to put her talent to use. The transition from junior college to a Division II college was something she had to get used to. The physicality and pace of the game was something she had to adjust her game to, but that didn’t discourage her from working even harder. It was at East Bay where Eldredge began working with UPBaketball’s Coach Hannah who was their assistant coach during the 2024-2025 season. During Coach Hannah’s time there, she spent time with Eldredge, one on one, in order to work on things with more focus. This allowed for the two to create a bond that elevated Eldredge’s game. 

“Coach Hannah was the assistant coach during my freshman year there and we would do individual workouts. I really enjoyed the way she trained us, especially the way she would talk to us. She met all of the players with so much confidence,” Eldredge said. 

Even though Coach Hannah’s tenure as an assistant coach at East Bay ended this past season, they have continued to build on to their relationship during Coach Hannah’s Small Groups at UPB with other women who help to challenge her. Being surrounded by Coach Hannah and other players at the facility has helped her in many ways. Something that Eldredge has benefited from is being surrounded by coaches who aren’t hesitant to correct her and that goes for all players. The environment allows her to grow with no shame in making mistakes because there will always be someone there ready to teach. 

“She’s a very smart player who reads the defense well and is capable of scoring at all three levels. She’s a great off ball defender and is just all around, great at using physicality as an advantage. Taylor has also developed to become a great passer,” Coach Hannah said. 

Working out in small groups has been highly advantageous for Eldredge as she is exposed to many different types of players. Coach Hannah has seen her passing become an essential part of her game, while being able to dominate on both ends of the court. She enjoys the competitive nature that each athlete brings and it pushes her to play assertively. 

“Being able to observe other players in the gym is helpful and inspiring. If I see one of the women do a move I’ve never seen before, it makes me want to work on that myself and see how I could incorporate that in my game,” Eldredge said. 

As she enters her senior year at Cal State East Bay, she hopes to work on skills she’s already great at as well as working on skills she is still refining. Their work on the court include understanding how to use change of pace at different points of the game. When to go slow or when to go faster has been beneficial for the high scorer. As she steps into a bigger role at East Bay, she is learning how to be more physical while having controlled footwork. Her work with Coach Hannah has set her up for this season to become a leader as she steps into becoming an upperclassman. Eldredge is the type of athlete who likes to lead by example but knows that being verbal on the court is just as important. From her early beginnings on the courts of Hawaii to competing at the collegiate level, Eldredge will be entering her last year of college basketball ready and equipped with the tools necessary to succeed. This is thanks to the work she’s been putting in at UPBasketball with Coach Hannah and the other women who are there to help her improve.