For Taylor Englebert, stepping onto the court with older players has been part of her basketball journey since fourth grade.
The New Jersey guard in the Class of 2033 has competed through community, travel, and AAU basketball, encountering new teammates and challenges along the way. Playing up has given her opportunities to test herself beyond her own age group.
Now in sixth grade, Taylor is preparing for the winter season with St. Stan’s seventh- and eighth-grade team in Parlin, New Jersey. She will help defend the Diocese of Metuchen CYM basketball championship that the team won last year.
How did you first get into basketball, and what do you love most about playing?
“My dad introduced me to basketball and helped me fall in love with the game. What I love most about playing today is having fun and meeting new friends.”
You’ve been playing up since fourth grade. What’s the hardest part of competing against older girls, and how has it helped you improve?
“The hardest part is that the older girls are usually bigger and stronger, so I have to make decisions faster. It challenges me to protect the ball, look for my teammates, and find ways to get my shot off. I think it’s helping me become more confident and learn that I can still compete even when I’m one of the youngest players.”
Continuing to Grow
Taylor’s answers connect two parts of her basketball experience: the challenge of competing and the enjoyment that keeps her coming back.
Her upcoming season with St. Stan’s will bring those experiences together again. Playing alongside seventh & eighth graders, she will have more opportunities to learn, gain more experience and help her team defend their championship while continuing to develop her own game.
For Taylor, the next chapter begins close to home—with teammates, older competition, and more basketball ahead.
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