At most schools, homecoming is in the early fall. But for Brentwood High School graduate Josh Taylor, homecoming was last Thursday.

Taylor, the starting center on the Eastern Kentucky men's basketball team, led the Colonials into an early season nonconference game against Pitt at the Petersen Events Center.

During his high school days, Taylor often dreamed of playing college basketball in Pittsburgh. Taylor finally got his chance last week.

"It was exciting to come home and play in front of my family and friends," Taylor said after EKU's 71-60 loss. "We played hard."

That "home game" was a long overdue reward for Taylor. As a high school senior, he was such a prized recruit for Eastern Kentucky that the team's coach, Jeff Neubauer, promised him that the Colonials would play a game in Pittsburgh as part of his recruiting pitch.

"Josh is an important shooter and player in our system," Neubauer said. "He has shown great senior leadership."

While the Colonials lost in Taylor's long-awaited return to the Pittsburgh hardwood, he was impressive, as usual.

Taylor logged 35 minutes and was tied for second on the team in scoring with 11 points, including a team-high three 3-pointers. He also grabbed four rebounds.

Pitt coach Jamie Dixon left the game quite impressed with both Eastern Kentucky, which competes in the Ohio Valley Conference, and Taylor.

"They're really a very hard team to play, especially in the first weeks of the season," Dixon said. "They hit some tough shots, some tough three's. They're going to be a good team in their conference.

"Taylor is a very good player; he's a good shooter. I'm glad to see a local kid have a great career."

Impressive statistics are nothing new to Taylor. In high school, he was flat-out dominant.

Taylor, whose parents, Scott and Donna, attend almost all the EKU home games, started at the varsity level at Brentwood for four years and is the Spartans' all-time leading scorer in basketball.

He was a three-time team MVP, three-time all-section selection and a one-time All-WPIAL Class AA player.

Taylor averaged 19 points and 12 rebounds per game as a senior.

His scholastic career opened the eyes of many NCAA Division I schools, but Taylor ultimately chose Eastern Kentucky over the likes of Youngstown State, Northern Arizona, Rider and, locally, Robert Morris.

Taylor said the Colonials' coaching staff as well as the basketball-first mentality in the state of Kentucky were major factors in his decision.

"Kentucky fans are diehard basketball fans," he said. "Growing up (in Western Pennsylvania), it was football, football. It's a different environment in Kentucky."

Once he arrived on the EKU campus, which is located in Richmond, Taylor quickly -- and easily -- made the transition to college ball.

Initially a power forward, he played in all 33 games as a freshman, averaging nine minutes and 2.7 points per game.

One of his biggest thrills during his freshman campaign was playing in front of 24,000 fans at Rupp Arena, home of the Kentucky Wildcats.

However, his freshman season is most remembered for one dramatic moment.

Taylor hit a game-winning shot with 2.9 seconds left to clinch the Ohio Valley Conference title for Eastern Kentucky, sealing a spot in the NCAA Tournament for the Colonials.

In his sophomore year, Taylor broke into the lineup as a part-time starter. He played in 30 games that year, starting 15.

He averaged 18.5 minutes and six points per game and began to show off his lethal 3-point stroke, sinking 39 treys.

Last year, his first as a full-time start-er, Taylor was second on the team with 337 points (10.9 ppg); he improved his three-point percentage to .400 in nailing 54 from beyond the arc.

This year, however, the 6-foot-7, 245-pound Taylor has moved to center and through two games was averaging 15 points and 10 rebounds per contest.

His senior campaign only now is heating up. Eastern Kentucky was 1-1 following the Pitt game; Taylor hopes to make the most of his final collegiate season.

However, the memory of his game-winning shot as a freshman still is fresh in his and other peoples' minds.

"I was asked about it just the other day," Taylor, a sports management major, said. "That was one of my top 10 memories of my basketball career.

"Nothing can compare to hitting the game-winning shot in your conference championship game."

Nothing, except maybe another NCAA Tournament run.

Ray Fisher, South Hills Record sports editor, contributed to this story.