By BRONWEN SCOTT

KAMLOOPS - At 6'11', middle blocker Taylor Verboom will be a force to be reckoned with at the net. The Radium, BC, student, who has been his school's volleyball MVP each year since grade eight, has committed to the TRU WolfPack for the 2007/08 season.

"I first noticed Taylor Verboom last year at Club provincials in Prince George and I was amazed at how well he moved laterally," said WolfPack men's volleyball head coach Patrick Hennelly. "He is 6'11" with a slim build and he has very quick movement across the net. When Taylor stands at the net with his arms straight up he is one foot over the net without jumping. I felt then that Taylor would have a place in the CIS. You can't teach height and at 6'11" Taylor will be the tallest player on the WolfPack men's volleyball team."

Taylor has played for the East Kootenay Volleyball Club from age 14, and helped his Team BC U-16 team to a 4th-place finish at the Western Provincials and his Team BC U-17 team to 5th place at the Canadian Nationals. He was also one of 36 boys in Canada invited to attend the National Men's Youth training camp in Winnipeg.

"I have been pleased with Taylor's improvement this year and I feel in a couple of years he will be a force at the net for the WolfPack," said Hennelly. "With some more experience and some meat on his bones he can develop into a great middle blocker in our league. I will be working closely with our strength coach Greg Kozoris to develop a program for Taylor to improve his power and strength because he already has the incredible size and movement skills. Taylor brings a positive attitude and great work ethic and will immediately fit in with this year's recruiting class and the current team."

The towering youth, who attends David Thompson Secondary in Invermere, BC, will be studying first-year Arts this fall.