Wade Taylor IV named Southeastern Conference Player of the Week

Living up to any marquee billing is an uphill battle.

Especially Southeastern Conference Preseason Player of the Year.

But Wade Taylor IV keeps climbing.

Having led an audacious rally with 34 points in Texas A&M’s 70-66 loss to No. 4 Houston at the Toyota Center, the Dallas native was selected SEC Player of the Week for the second time in his career, the league’s office announced Monday afternoon.

These honors are typically reserved for players on a winning squad during the prior week.

However, Taylor’s near-heroics proved too impressive to overlook.

In addition to adding four assists, three rebounds, three steals and a personal-best six 3-pointers, Taylor almost single-handedly erased a 21-point deficit by outscoring the Cougars 17-6 over a six-minute frame to tie the game with less than two minutes remaining.

Regrettably, his outburst was ultimately not enough.

It was surely one of the best individual performances against a top-five Houston squad that boasts one of the most formidable defenses in the country.

Unsurprisingly, Taylor ranks second in the SEC in scoring (18.6 PPG) and first in assists (4.8). His 25 steals are also good enough for third place.

Posing as a bigger target for the opposition from the onset, Taylor has scored in double digits in nine out of 11 games so far.

He might not be the flashiest player or headline the scoring column every night.

But he has blocked out the hype and has helped A&M throw punches above its weight class.

Just like a Preseason Player of the Year should.