Making a decision that will truly affect the rest of your life brings a great deal of pressure onto the shoulders of any individual, especially when that individual is 17 of 18 years old. So when Landon Taliaferro lost an opportunity to play basketball at a Division II school, he was faced with the decision of whether he wanted to continue to play basketball at the college level or give up the game and lose the athlete part of his student-athlete identity.

                "I had some opportunities out of college," Taliaferro said. "I was going to a Division II school that was nationally ranked but my mother was unable to make the seven-hour trip for the visit. So, the coaches decided to give the scholarship money to a couple of junior college players."

                Disappointed and unsure of his future, Taliaferro contemplated whether or not it was worth looking for another opportunity to play basketball.

                "At first, I panicked a little bit and wondered if I should even continue to play basketball," Taliaferro said. "I thought maybe I should just go to school as a regular student without basketball. But I guess I always knew that I should keep playing."

                Without any four-year opportunities available, Taliaferro started to look at junior colleges as a possibility with the hopes that he might be able to play his way into a four-year program.

                "I went and tried out for a few junior colleges including Laramie County," Taliaferro said. "After I tried out at Laramie, I knew that I should go there. I think it was the right decision even though junior college was different. It really helped me improve my game and helped me grow up. I wasn't too far from home (Boulder, Colo.) so I think that everything worked out perfectly."

                In his first year at Laramie County, Taliaferro averaged seven points per game but saw that scoring average grow to 22 points per contest by the end of his second and final year with the program. His scoring average rose primarily from his ability to shoot long range, leading NJCAA in three-pointers made with 130 during the 2017-18 season, including a game in which he netted 10 three pointers. He shot 49 percent from the floor and 48 percent from behind the arc. He posted six games with 30 or more points, highlighted by his 38-point effort against Western Wyoming Community College. He left the school after being named to the Region IX First Team.

                "I was considered a straight shooter and I wasn't allowed to dribble more than twice in my first year," Taliaferro said. "I worked hard during the following summer and that helped me become the team's main scorer the next year. I think the coaching staff saw me really working on my game during the offseason and saw the improvement. When I came back, I was really good at three-dribble pullups or driving to the basket. I'm not really the type kind of guy that is going to make five moves to get off a shot. I'm more the type that will make one solid move and pull up."

                Those improvements and expansion of his game are even more evident to Fairfield University Head Coach Sydney Johnson. He already sees the development of Taliaferro's game and is anxious to see him on the court this season.

                "Landon is more than just a terrific three-point shooter," Johnson said. "His ability to create space and make mid-range shots will surprise some people. He's also very coachable because what he doesn't know, he is willing to learn. I believe Landon will flourish within our program. As a member of Fairfield basketball, Landon has found his home away from home."

                While Taliaferro's athletic ability may have been enhanced by his off season work, he also has some athleticism in his lineage as well. His father was a basketball player and was responsible for introducing him to the game and fanning his interest by honing his skills.

                "My dad played basketball and he always played with me when I was growing up," Taliaferro said. "I just really enjoyed playing with him and he really helped me learn the game."

                His uncle also was a successful athlete but not on the hardwood. Mike Taliaferro was the quarterback at the University of Illinois when the program captured the 1964 Rose Bowl. He went on to play in the NFL for 10 seasons and competed against Joe Namath for the playing time between the 1965-67 seasons. He also spent time with the Boston/New England Patriots before finishing his NFL career with the Buffalo Bills. With his uncle's success on the gridiron, Landon considered playing the sport but the desire quickly dissipated.

                "I did go to a few practices during my senior year," Taliaferro said. "But my basketball coach got really mad so I decided not to play. We had a chance to win the league that year so I really wanted to concentrate on basketball."

                That concentration helped him gain success at Laramie County which put the guard back on the college basketball radar. Coaches from around the country began to take notice of the Colorado native's prowess on the basketball court. The interest earned led to offers received and Taliaferro's patience two years earlier was now paying off.

                "It was kind of surreal because I never thought I would get calls from schools like Cal-State Bakersfield, UNC-Greensboro or Fairfield," Taliaferro said. "I couldn't believe it was really happening because I had only heard about that kind of interest from other players who had experienced it."

                In the end, Taliaferro chose Fairfield because it was the perfect fit for him both as a student and as an athlete.

                "It was a great decision," Taliaferro said. "Coach Johnson is a great coach and a great teacher both on and off the court. When I visited here, Coach Johnson brought me around campus to talk with people and I heard how a Fairfield degree can open doors after graduation. I know that getting a Fairfield degree isn't easy but it can lead you to many opportunities."

                Finding opportunities and taking advantage of those chances is something to which Taliaferro has become accustomed whether it be in the classroom or on the basketball court.