Taylor Coppenrath
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Taylor Coppenrath (born November 8, 1981) is a professional basketball player currently playing for Pallacanestro Biella in italian Serie A. He was raised in West Barnet, Vermont.
Coppenrath went to high school at St. Johnsbury Academy where Coach Layne Higgs kept Coppenrath from playing on the varsity basketball team until his junior year. However, he went on to be the Vermont Gatorade Athlete of the Year.
Coppenrath then went to play for the University of Vermont. After his red-shirt freshman year, he led UVM to three straight America East Conference titles. He finished his college career as UVM's second all-time leading scorer in total points (2,442) and points per game (21.4). Also at the University, he ranks first all-time for field goals made (851) and fourth in rebounding (839) and blocked shots (83). He joins the late Reggie Lewis as the second player in America East Conference history to earn Player of the Year honors three times. He also tied Vin Baker's mark of being named America East Player of the Week 14 times.
In his Senior year, Coppenrath was a finalist for many NCAA awards, including the John Wooden Award. That season (2004-2005) was the most successful in UVM Men's Basketball history. After capturing the Conference title, the team defeated Syracuse University for its first NCAA Tournament victory ever. Coppenrath scored 16 points in the game.
Coppenrath has been seen at the open try-outs for the Vermont Frost Heaves.
Coppenraths's father George R. Coppenrath is a Republican in the Vermont State Senate.
During his junior year Coppenrath and the Catamounts were on pace for another America East regular season championship when he was diagnosed with a broken wrist following a loss at home to Boston University(BU). BU went on to win the regular season crown, but Coppenrath led Vermont over Maine in the conference title game to send UVM to the NCAA tournament. The title game, which was held at UVM's Patrick Gym and televised nationally, was Coppenrath's first game back from the wrist injury. Notwithstanding a brace which he wore throughout the game, Taylor delivered a heroic 43 point performance, and was named the most valuable player of the conference tournament.
