Wyoming to England: Landon Taliaferro’s Basketball Journey

Every year, we take immense pride in seeing our student-athletes make a significant impact on the landscape of UK University sports.

Whether competing on the court or excelling in their studies, our students embody the values of dedication, teamwork, and excellence, contributing significantly to both their teams’ success and the broader sports program.

From individual honors to National Championships, our athletes consistently demonstrate outstanding achievements that set a high standard for future athletes and positively impact their institutions. Their hard work and commitment drive both personal and team accomplishments, elevating their university’s reputation and inspiring the entire community.

One student-athlete who has embodied these values is current master’s student, Landon Taliaferro.

We spoke with the former Fairfield University guard about his overseas experience and look back on his basketball journey from Wyoming to England.

The NCJAA’s Three Point Leader Landon’s impressive basketball journey began at Laramie County Community College in Wyoming. The 6’5 guard averaged 22 points per game by the end of his second and final year with the program and led the NJCAA in three-pointers made with 130 during the 2017-18 season. He posted six games with 30 or more points, highlighted by his 38-point effort against Western Wyoming Community College, and left the school after being named to the Region IX First Team.

A Top Three-Point Shooter in the Nation at Fairfield University

In 2018, Landon transferred to D1 institution, Fairfield University, where he became the third Stag in school history to reach 90 three pointers in a season and ranked 22nd in Division I with his .423 three-point percentage.

As a Senior, he continued to prove that he was one of the top three-point shooters in the nation. He set a school record for three-point field goals in a game when he netted 10 in 15 attempts against Texas A&M in front of nationally-televised audience at the ESPN Orlando Invitational.

Following professional stints in the NBA’s G League, Luxembourg, and Australia, Landon resumed his student-athlete career in September 2023, accepting a postgraduate opportunity at one of the UK’s top sporting universities.

“The more I thought about the opportunity, the more I started to realize my further aspirations for academic study. Additionally, I did still want to compete at a high level in sport so the opportunity seemed like a perfect fit.”

UK University Team Success An outstanding individual campaign with his UK University team helped deliver the program’s first ever BUCS Premier North League title and a spot on the BUCS Premier North Team of the Year. “My experience in the UK has been fantastic. I’ve been studying in a major I find fascinating and playing basketball with amazing teammates and coaches. Honestly, everyday I have looked forward to competing on the court and learning about fascinating things in the technological world.”

NBL Impact Landon has also made a huge impact in the National Basketball League (NBL) during his time overseas. In his 24 games, he averaged an impressive 19.3 points per game. A standout performance in January earned Landon the prestigious NBL Player of the Week title after he tallied 33 points, 10 rebounds, 7 assists, and 2 steals. With consistent excellence and clutch performances throughout the season, Landon earned Team of the Week honors three times, including a spectacular 42-point game that showcased his remarkable talent and influence in the league.

Our Journey with Landon

Our work with Landon began in February 2023 after he registered his details for our free service via the application form on our website.

After informing us of his ambitions to continue playing high level basketball and resume his studies, we worked closely to present a range of exciting postgraduate opportunities that would allow him to pursue his playing career at the top level in the UK whilst pursuing his master’s degree.

“The entire process with Play Overseas was great. They were very diligent, straightforward and honest. The team communicated well and were also patient with me when making decisions. I would highly recommend working with Play Overseas if your looking to continuing your sporting career and education!”

Just like hundreds of other talented student-athletes in the past, Landon received our full support through every step of the UK university recruitment process, from submitting grad school applications on his behalf to ensuring a smooth transition upon his arrival in England.

“A Tremendous Opportunity” As Landon nears the end of his debut year in England, he shared some inspiring words for any student-athletes considering a similar opportunity: “I would say if you truly want to expand your studies in order to further your career after sport this is a tremendous opportunity. Additionally, if you want to still compete at a high level in sport and develop your skill this is the perfect fit for that as well.”

It’s not too late to embark on your own overseas journey in September 2024!

If you are a talented student-athlete aspiring to take your sporting career and education overseas, we are still actively recruiting ahead of the upcoming fall semester!

With large scholarship opportunities still available in a number of sports, register your details with us today and take the first step toward an extraordinary student-athlete experience.