In this electrifying episode of Talk of the Town, host Jon Adams sits down with rising basketball phenom Jaya Taylor—an eighth-grader already turning heads on varsity. With her father and coach Milton Taylor by her side, Jaya opens up about her journey from golf cart giggles to court dominance.
They dive deep into discipline, leadership, the homeschool-to-varsity grind, and the tough-love mentorship that made her unstoppable. Plus, Jaya breaks down her Texas AAU tournament triumph, her All-American MVP nod, and shares what keeps her humble, hungry, and hilariously honest.
🎤 Don't miss the heartfelt shoutouts, sibling dynamics, and a dose of motivational gold for student-athletes everywhere.
🔥 Standout Moments with Timestamps:
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0:57 – Jon declares war on Christmas-present opening crimes (yes, really).
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2:09 – The emotional toll of Memorial Day hits home.
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3:25 – "We don't go gently into that good night" – Jon on pickleball vengeance.
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3:58 – Meet Jaya: varsity athlete, 8th grader, and absolute baller.
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5:20 – Jaya’s varsity mindset began in 4th grade (with a left hand already!).
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7:30 – Homeschool vs public school: “Mental toughness starts at 5am.”
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9:40 – “Not being the best taught me how to work like the best.”
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11:34 – Jaya on motivation: “If you’re not willing to grind, maybe it’s not your goal.”
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13:23 – Jaya’s leadership playbook: “Know each teammate, push them differently.”
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15:25 – Trust isn’t given; it’s earned—even as a 7th grader.
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20:32 – Jaya picks Kobe over LeBron and shouts out Paige Bueckers as her GOAT.
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24:22 – Tearjerker alert: Jaya reflects on her mom’s mentorship and dad’s discipline.
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26:27 – "They don’t know my goals." — Jaya claps back at critics.
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28:15 – Big sister vibes: Amaya the joy-bringer and court killer in the making.
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33:50 – The Texas AAU tournament twist: losing to a top team, then beating them for the chip.
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35:17 – “We’re from Fargo.” And we win championships.
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