Former Fox Lane Basketball Star Taj Finger Playing Professionally in Germany

Taj Finger played basketball for four years at Stanford. His college career included three trips to the NCAA Tournament and several weeks spent in the top 10 of the polls. He has played professionally overseas. But he said his greatest basketball moment came when he led Fox Lane High School to a sectional title in 2003-04.

"I have played big time college ball and professional ball and I don't think I was ever happier than when our team won sectionals my senior year," Finger wrote in an e-mail.

Finger is the best player in Fox Lane history. A four-year starter and three-year captain, he was named The Journal News player of the year and first-team all-state his senior season.

 "Each year I played with a great group of guys who I loved being around and that's what made playing so fun," he wrote. "And to go out the way our team did senior year couldn't have been scripted any better."

The stellar career led to recruitment from Stanford, and Finger called the decision to go out west a "no brainer" given the school's academic and basketball reputation.

A regular contributor throughout his college career, the 6'8" forward posted his best numbers his senior year, averaging 5.9 points, 4.4 rebounds, and shooting an impressive 55.2 percent for field goals.

The Cardinals made their deepest Tournament run that season, in 2008, advancing to the Sweet 16 after a memorable second-round game against Marquette. Stanford, a three seed, got a basket from Brook Lopez (now with the New Jersey Nets) with 1.3 seconds left to win in overtime, 82-81.

Finger played 19 minutes off the bench in that game and hit all three field goals he attempted en route to a seven-point, five-rebound performance.

"Playing in the NCAA tournament is one of the most exciting experiences I have ever had playing basketball," Finger wrote. "I will never forget that game against Marquette. Going from thinking we are going to be upset to hitting a last-second shot to win was unreal."

Since his college stats were not overwhelming, Finger initially found it difficult to catch on with a team overseas. But he was signed by the Tromsø Storm (Norway) for the 2009 season and had a great experience.

"The only downfall was the weather," he noted. "I was literally in the Arctic Circle and it was freezing."

His play in Norway caught the eye of fellow Stanford alum John Patrick, the coach of BG Göttingen. Unfortunately a shoulder injury that required surgery sidelined Finger after only two games with his new team.

Even though he didn't get much playing time, Finger enjoyed his time in Göttingen. While some leagues, like the one Tromsø was in, cap the number of American players per team at two or three, BG Göttingen's league allows up to eight.

"Being on a team with eight other Americans, who were also young guys, made it feel like I was playing in college again," Finger wrote.

Finger is now in Mount Kisco continuing his rehab. He is close to 100 percent and said he may make trips to Villanova and Stanford to train with some of the players at those schools. Come September, he'll head back overseas with the hopes of joining a new team.

While Finger doesn't like being away from friends and family, living in a country where the primary language is not English, or having to learn to drive a stick shift, he noted that it's better than having a "real job."

"I would absolutely recommend playing overseas to any basketball player who wants to keep the dream alive," he said.

Clarification: A portion of the sentence that includes  "where the primary language is English" has been changed to "where the primary language is not English."