RECRUIT PROFILE: Women’s basketball adds Fania Taylor to 2022 class

The Gee-Gees women's basketball program is thrilled to add Fania Taylor, a guard from Langley, B.C. 

Taylor had been eyeing the Gee-Gees program since 2020 when she decided to pursue her post-secondary basketball career in Canada. The program's commitment to diversity and social justice initiatives was one of Taylor's motivations for choosing to don the Garnet and Grey.

"The diversity on Gee-Gees women's basketball was the first thing that stood out to me," said Taylor. "For most of my childhood, I was raised in a predominately white area, and I never got to experience the feeling of looking around and seeing people who look like me. Therefore, I always felt isolated and different. 

"Having young, black, female athletes to look up to is a big part of my decision in choosing what program to play for."

"We are more than excited to have Fania join this program," said Rose-Anne Joly, Gee-Gees interim head coach. "We know her contribution will not only be on the court. She is the perfect example of what this program is: a high-performance athlete devoted to her studies and committed to social justice initiatives."

Taylor enjoyed a decorated high school and club career in British Columbia.

Starring for Walnut Grove Secondary, she is averaging 30 points per game thus far in the 2021-22 season. Taylor helped her school to the 2020 AAAA East Valley Championship, being named a First Team All-Star for the 2019-20 season. She also the MVP of the 2018 Junior Girls Provincial Tournament and the 2018 Junior Girls Fraser Valley Tournament.

At the club level, Taylor is a long-time member of VK Basketball, a top girls' basketball club in North Vancouver.

"Fania will bring a lot of energy and competitiveness to this team," said Joly. "She is definitely a hard worker, ready for the challenge and will also push her teammates to give it their all. We cannot wait to have her on campus!"

The University of Ottawa's beautiful campus and strong Human Kinetics faculty were other deciding factors for Taylor, who visited the Nation's Capital in November 2021.

"I was blessed to see firsthand how historically and visually appealing the campus is," said Taylor. "The program that I have decided to study is Human Kinetics. I have always loved science and I know that Ottawa has a great Kinesiology program."

With the addition of Taylor, the women's basketball program now spans the length of Canada. Taylor hails from the west coast, while Savannah and Alissa Provo call Lake Echo, N.S. home.   

"Although moving away from all my friends and family to live on the other side of the country will be a huge adjustment, my future coaches and teammates really made me feel like Ottawa was my home away from home," concluded Taylor, who will follow the rest of the Gee-Gees 2021-22 season on social media and via OUA.tv webcasts.