Natural Born Shooter
Moraga, Calif. — Freshman guard Taycee Wedin has always had a basketball in her hands, even from an early age.
The Milwaukie, Oregon native brings championship pedigree to the Gaels roster. A two-time Northwest Oregon Conference (NWOC) player of the year and a two-time Oregon School Athletics Association (OSAA) 5A state champion in 2015 and 2017.
Wedin comes out of La Salle Prep high school in Milwaukie, Oregon. The championship aspect starts with Taycee Wedin’s mother, Kelli Wedin. Kelli Wedin has been the La Salle Prep high school women’s basketball coach since Taycee was in the seventh grade.
Taycee is proud of her mother for building a winning program for the La Salle Falcons.
“My mom has worked so hard to build that program,” Taycee said. “Just the culture they have there. We won state (championship) my freshman year and that was amazing. That was my mom’s first state championship also, so it was an awesome feeling. I am so proud of my mom because she works so hard and it means so much to her. Everyone can tell, everyone loves her there.”
Taycee Wedin was a prime player at La Salle Prep. She led her team to four straight NWOC championship appearances and never lost a league game in her career. Taycee finished her career at La Salle averaging 18.7 points per game, 3.3 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game, while averaging 2.2 steals per game in 18.7 minutes.
As Taycee capped off her second state championship in her junior year of 2017, she suffered an ACL injury. Wedin spoke about her road to recovery and how she got back from it.
“I had never been really injured before,” Taycee said. “So a week after (winning state championships), it just happened at one of my training camps. It was devastating just because we were doing so well and I was about to play for my club team.
“I had to miss out on my last year of club basketball, which is where a lot of college coaches come watch you play,” Taycee continued. “It was definitely hard, but I was super eager to get back for my senior season. So, just going through the process of rehab and just strengthening it as much as I could was super important to me and something I worked hard with to get back.”
Taycee came back strong from her injury. The Falcons appeared in their fourth straight championship game in Taycee’s senior season.
Taycee averaged 19.4 points per game and 2.3 steals per game in her senior season, which were both career highs. She averaged 3.2 rebounds per game and 2.5 assists per game. She took home the 5A Oregon State Player of the Year award.
A memorable moment in Taycee Wedin’s senior campaign came on March 6, 2018. La Salle Prep squared off against Crater High School in the state quarterfinals. Taycee scored 21 points and knocked down three 3-point field goals.
The Falcons would go on to beat Crater 52–43. The three 3-pointers gave Taycee the Oregon all-time girls high school three-point record with 354. The previous record was held by Shoni Schimmel, who made 353 while playing at Franklin and Hermiston high school (2007–2010).
Taycee would finish her high school career with 359 made three-pointers. She broke the record inside Gill Coliseum, home of the Oregon State University Beavers.
“I knew going into it how many three-pointers I needed, but during the game I wasn’t like I need to get all my shots up,” Taycee said. “I was focused on the game and getting the win, but when it happened, it was awesome. To have my family there for support and my teammates were great. I couldn’t do it without any of my teammates, so obviously that was awesome.”
The family aspect for Taycee extends beyond her mother being the coach of La Salle Prep. The second oldest Wedin sister, Addison Wedin, better known as Addi, is currently coming off a NWOC 5A championship of her own in her sophomore year.
Taycee was so proud of her little sister getting that championship, and followed the journey from afar all season long.
“I was watching all their games online,” Taycee said. “Didn’t get to celebrate it with them back home till spring break, but it was so great to hear that they won and I was super proud.”
Taycee and Addi played one season together, and it is something that Taycee will never forget.
“It was great,” Taycee said. “We’re three years apart, so we didn’t really get to play together too much when we were younger. We’d always be in the gym practicing together. In high school, she was going to be an incoming freshman and I was going to be a senior. She (Addi) tore her ACL and she only got to play half the season. But the last half she did get to play, it was awesome, and I would not trade it for anything.”
Addi Wedin just finished her sophomore year at La Salle and averaged 20.8 points per game, 4.6 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game, while snagging 2.3 steals per game in 20.8 minutes of play.
Taycee also has another sister who plays basketball. Ella Wedin, the youngest of the three sisters, will enter her first year of high school ball next year.
Taycee Wedin’s first year at Saint Mary’s was a learning process for her. The Gaels women’s basketball team finished the season 21–12 and made it to the second round of the Women’s National Invitational Tournament (WNIT).
Taycee signed with the Saint Mary’s Gaels after receiving offers from the Arizona Wildcats and Washington Huskies of the PAC-12 conference. She also had offers from the Clemson Tigers and Texas Tech Red-Raiders. Taycee was perceived as one of the best shooters coming out of high school on the west coast.
As Taycee suffered her ACL injury, Saint Mary’s continued to check in on her and communicate with her throughout the process. They seemed to be very interested, and ultimately what inticed Taycee to coming. A combination of the constant communication between her and the coaches, alongside the girls on the program, made it a fit.
The Assistant Coach for the Gaels women’s basketball team, Allyson Fasnacht, discussed how they were drawn to Taycee, and the overall talent that she possesses.
“When we first started recruiting Taycee we actually were recruiting one of her teammates who was a couple of years older than her,” Fasnacht said. “We would go watch her teammate and you’re watching the games and obviously we knew who the girl was (Taycee’s teammate), we got to find out who this shooter is (talking about Taycee). She can shoot the heck out of the ball, we have to keep an eye out on this kid.”
Coach Fasnacht further explains the culture that Saint Mary’s has in the recruitment process, and how they would not pull the offer when Taycee got injured. They had all the confidence in Taycee recovering and getting back to her full potential.
“I think for us, we always thought that the type of player she could be was someone who could deal with this type of injury,” Fasnacht said. “She has the body type of someone who could get through an injury like this and still be the player she can be. I think for us it’s important to stick with kids who get injured, it’s part of the game.”
Taycee averaged 6.3 points per game this season, while collecting 1.1 rebounds per game. She shot 40.9% from the field, and shot 39.6% from the three-point line in 15.8 minutes of play as a role player. She played in 26 games this season, as she missed a few games from an injury.
Taycee reflected on her first year at Saint Mary’s, and what she looks to improve on for next season.
“My first year, just with the injuries and everything, I just felt like I wasn’t a 100 percent the entire season,” Taycee said. “So I just feel like I have a lot more of potential, and a lot more to give. I’m just so excited for the next three years. This year was awesome, I could not have asked for better people to be surrounded by, but basketball-wise I am so excited to keep getting better and growing as a player with my teammates.”
Taycee is a known spot up shooter in the West Coast Conference (WCC) and teams adjust to the scouting report. Taycee tried to become an all-around player and she continues her development in her personal game.
“I think definitely I need to work on being more of an all-around player,” Taycee said. “Teams are going to notice I am a shooter and so I am going to need to do a lot more in other areas. If I need to bring the ball up, I am going to have to do that. Just being confident with that and knowing I can do it is a big key.”
Coach Fasnacht had her thoughts on Taycee’s improvements for next season and what she expects in development from year one to year two.
“I’m sure Taycee’s said the same thing,” Fasnacht said. “She’s way more than just a shooter. That’s by far her biggest strength right now, but she’s got so much more to offer than just a catch and shoot type of kid. I think one thing I was really impressed with when she came in was her ability to handle the ball and her ability to change speeds and get to the rim.
“Now that she’s got a season under her belt and understands the physicality and the pace of how we play,” Fasnacht continued. “She has to understand how she can get her shot off within our system and how we play versus people that are more athletic than maybe she played against in high school. It’s definitely a learning curve, but I think you’ll see a huge jump from freshman year to sophomore year. Not only in her percentages, but also the variety of the shots she’s able to take.”
Taycee comes from a basketball family, and Coach Fasnacht discusses how that has helped her with several aspects of the game.
“She’s obviously starting as a freshman and coming off the bench, which is a new role for her,” Fasnacht said. “It was fun to see her figure her way through all that. She’s a really high basketball IQ kid, coming from being a coach’s kid was really good for her. Just her ability to pick things up was really impressive.
“You can tell she really understands the game,” Fasnacht continued. “She understands passing angles, and defensive angles, and how to deliver the ball to the right person at the right time. And certain things you can’t necessarily teach. They're really instinctive, the things she has right away. That really helped her integrate herself to what we were doing and helped her pick up on things a lot quicker than some freshmen do, so kudos to her for sure.”
On the court, Taycee’s game speaks for itself. Being a student-athlete there’s a lot on her plate. A typical week for Taycee includes morning classes, a lifting session, followed by routine practice, and some study hall.
If it's a weekday home game, morning classes are still on the schedule. That is followed by a shootaround, which typically takes place around five hours before game time. A team meal ensues, then a little rest period, before heading to McKeon Pavilion about an hour and a half before game time.
Coach Fasnacht was asked to characterize Taycee’s personality and what she is like off the court.
“I think she has a tendency to be a little bit of a quieter kid to start, until she feels more comfortable and then she kinda starts to open up a bit more,” Fasnacht said. “It’s been fun throughout this whole year to see her break out of her shell a little bit. Find her voice in her own way.
“She’s not somebody that’s gonna try to be somebody else, or be somebody that she’s not,” Fasnacht continued. “She’s gonna be who she is which I think is really cool. She’s self-confident to be genuine and authentic and do things her way. And if it takes her a little bit more time to kinda find her voice, then so be it.”
Coach Fasnacht talks about Taycee’s genuine character and the maturity she has for a freshman.
“She’s a kid who you can tell, she’s always watching,” Fasnacht said. “Like she’s not necessarily gonna be the most vocal kid on the court or in a room, but you know she’s paying attention to what’s going on. She is constantly taking in information and its been fun to see her like I said, break out of her shell and see more of her personality come out as she gets more comfortable.”
Taycee’s season-highs in her Freshmen year included scoring 17 points twice. The first instance was on January 26, 2019, against Loyola Marymount University at home. She shot and made a season-high 5–11 three-pointers, as the Gaels routed LMU 86–62.
The second time Taycee dropped 17 points, was in the first round of the WNIT versus Hawai’i. She shot a season-high 60% from the field (6–10) and knocked down 3 three-point field goals in a season-high 25 minutes as well. Saint Mary’s would knock out Hawai’i 67–43.
Taycee’s 17 points was a team-high in the playoff game versus Hawai’i.
Taycee included her performance versus Hawai’i as one of her favorite games of the season. She also mentioned the game she returned home to play Oregon State in pre-season play. The Gaels lost to the Oregon State 89–56, but it was a great moment for Taycee to return home.
“Another favorite game, I remember playing at Portland,” Taycee said. “All my family was there and it was just great. It was the first time I’ve played in front of a lot of family members, for a college game. It was super fun to have them there.”
The freshman guard, Taycee, has a lot to look forward to next season. A hungry mindset, as she best describes the team’s outlook heading into next season. The Gaels team lost two key seniors in the starting lineup, but Taycee describes that factor only pushes them harder.
Taycee was asked if she was always a shooter growing up and what it took to develop that mindset.
“I’ve always been a shooter growing up,” Taycee said. “Part of it, I think I was gifted in some way like that. Just the techniques I have, but I mean a lot of it was just getting in the gym and getting reps up every single day and being relentless with that. I wanted to be a shooter.”
Taycee had the second-best three-point shooting percentage in the WCC for a freshman, and the sixth best overall in the conference at 39.6 percent. The only freshman ahead of her was her teammate Sam Simons, at 40.5 percent. Taycee knocked down 44 three-pointers in her freshman year.
A natural born shooter from Milwaukie, Oregon.
