Bobcats select Taylor at No.31

Jeffery Taylor had to wait longer than anticipated, but the Vanderbilt wing completed the Commodore trifecta on Thursday as the 31st pick in the 2012 NBA Draft.

Selected by the Charlotte Bobcats to start off the second round, Taylor joined John Jenkins and Festus Ezeli as the first Vanderbilt threesome to be selected in the first two rounds of an NBA Draft in the event's 65 year history.

Taylor was projected by many to be a first round pick, but his unexpected fall may pay dividends down the road for the Commodore senior.

A three-time All-SEC Team selection and three-time SEC All-Defensive Team pick, Taylor may be one of the most athletic players in Commodore history and he ranked as one of the most dominant one-on-one defenders in college basketball during his career.

The 6-foot-7 standout from Sweden also became one of Vanderbilt's most prolific scorers and all-around players. He finished with 1,897 career points, ranking second to only Shan Foster in Commodore history. Taylor also finished sixth in school history in rebounds (752), eight in steals (146) and tenth in blocks (60).

Taylor also second in career free throw attempts with 652 and third in free throws made with 452.

Taylor joins a Bobcats franchise that is coming off one of the worst seasons in modern NBA history. A young team with many holes, Taylor should give Charlotte a boost in its perimeter defending efforts and as another driver off breaks.

His improved shooting could also provide a spark for a team that finished dead last in scoring, field goal percentage and three-point shooting.

Charlotte's defensive numbers are not much better as opponents converted on 47.5 shot attempts, including 35.6-percent from three.

Taylor joined Kentucky freshman Michael Kidd-Gilchrist as the newest Bobcats. Charlotte selected Kidd-Gilchrist with the second overall pick in the first round.

An expansion team in 2004, Charlotte has reached the NBA playoffs just once in its eight seasons.

Taylor is not guaranteed a rookie contract as a second round pick per NBA and NBPA draft rules.