Taurian Fontenette Has Arrived In Dallas
November 3, 2009 - American Basketball Association (ABA)
Dallas Generals News Release
This past Saturday, Dallas ditched the red carpet and rolled out the tarmac for Taurian Fontenette. The man you may better know as, "Mr. 720" or "The Air Up There."
However, there's more to this street baller than a little fancy ball handling and an impressive dunk resume. Yes, he has played on the AND1 Mix-Tape and Ball4Real Tours. Yes, he has a 50" vertical and during the 2006 AND1 game in Houston, Texas, stunned fans by performing the first ever widely-documented 720-degree dunk. Video clips of the feat have been shown on ESPN's Sports Center and draw countless hits on YouTube. But what you don't know, what the highlights fail to capture, are the roots of this underground superstar.
From the dusty roads of Hitchcock, Texas, Taurian learned how to play basketball like everyone else, focusing on fundamentals and technique. His efforts landed him in a program at University of Texas - El Paso as he worked towards a degree. His first season at Richland College, a Division III school, he and his teammates came in 3rd at nationals. Taurian was even ranked in some of the scouting reports but a foot injury would prevent him from playing a second season. It wasn't until a friend from L.A. first called him "The Air Up There" and convinced him to show up to an AND1 try out that "Mr. 720" was born.
Taurian is considered by many to be one of the best dunkers ever, due to his sole ability to do the 720-degree dunk. Perhaps less known, but equally as impressive, is his signature dunk - the Axle-Rider (a.k.a. the 360-degree between-the-legs). Taurian's claims to have performed the dunk before anyone else back in his high school days are widely accepted due to his extraordinary athletic ability and stellar reputation. The ease with which he can perform these dunks in games and on breakaways make it clear, he's far from a one trick pony and miles above most dunk specialists who rarely posses the talent to perform their feats during actual games.
Now, Taurian believes it's time to advance beyond the realm of Street Ball. "Many people don't realize that I can play ball as well as dunk. I love Street Ball, but it's limited. Playing for the Generals I can really show what I can do," Taurian says. "I'm excited about playing with "Pig" because I feel he has a lot of insight to offer having come from the NBA. Coach Terrell is a great coach and I know he'll help me continue to develop my game and I will ultimately reach that next level."
Taurian is telling fans to strap in as he discusses what it means to be playing in Dallas, "Although I'm from Houston it feels like I'm back home, this is where I got serious about basketball. I'm excited about playing in Dallas because a lot of my fans are here. I'm a highlight player. It comes from Street Ball. I know when we get the crowd into it we'll be able to pull out the wins."
Come December 5, 2009, Taurian and the Generals take the court for the first time facing off with the North Texas Fresh of Fort Worth. Tickets range from $5 for general admission to $15 for courtside. The game will tip off at 7 PM at the Fair Park Coliseum.
Note: OurSports Central no longer actively covers the American Basketball Association (ABA) as a professional league due in part to its inability to publish and play a schedule and the transitory nature of many of its teams. For information on professional minor leagues, please see OSC's basketball section.
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American Basketball Association Stories from November 3, 2009
- Taurian Fontenette Has Arrived In Dallas - Dallas Generals
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