2025 Indiana Pacers 2nd Round Pick Taelon Peter talks about his Basketball Journey

2025 Indiana Pacers 2nd Round Pick Taelon Peter talks about his Basketball Journey

[Music] hello and welcome to the Arkansas Sports Network as uh we’ve got a special interview for you today Um I really didn’t have this one on my bingo card Um but we’ve got uh Indian and Pacers second round pick Talon Peter here with us at Russellville High School Gymnasium Arena here And really cool because this is really where it all started for you Oh yeah One of the places it all started right
yep One of the places it definitely started to gain traction for sure I would say that’s a really good point right there because your senior year the first thing I heard about you as a senior was you’re a high jumper right
y
what 6’11 was that your highest 610
610
My junior year
right i mean people were talking about you kind of maybe looking that route as a possibility of being you know whatever you’re going to do in college or whatever was you were going to be a track star You were going to be a high jumper right yes sir
And then the basketball thing began to take off But let’s go back You started Well te just bring me to here because I know that there was a time that you were at Russellville then you were at Alma you’re at Russellville Tell us how all that worked out
Um yeah uh that part’s kind of simple You know I was at Russellville Um you know I’m a late bloomer I have been my whole life And um yeah my first year at Russellville wasn’t the best on the court Obviously I had all my friends and and everything but um I had an opportunity to go play basketball with my my my blood cousin and um I took that opportunity Um it was great I learned a lot Um some people say I came back with a jumper Um but yeah uh after that experience I decided to come back and finish off what I started here at Russellville High School and you came back as a senior and it all just kind of came together for Russellville not just for you but for the team like years and years of not being all that successful some patterns of you know a few years here and there they’d have some some success Uh I mean back here we’ve got a Corus Williamson jersey up there
Yeah
And they had some big time success at that point I mean one of the top teams not only in the state but in the nation But Russville was kind of dormant up until that point when uh Kyle Pennington came in He changed the culture and here you are now You guys are are you’re a senior and it all just kind of comes together at one time
Mhm Tell us a little bit about what went what went on behind that scene as far as that team but then also with you Here’s the thing that I saw when I was covering you I’ve never seen a kid probably since Corless that come in and was so athletic come in and and I was telling uh Brad I was like I had all kinds of videos of you I remember one you’re playing here playing to Queen and you missed a free throw and and just come and got your own rebound and dunked it off the off the free throw and I’m like what just happened it was it was something It was something to see this gym started getting filled up Tell us about that whole process and what that was like for you
Uh yeah Um man it it started in like second grade you know Um a bunch of guys growing up together playing AE basketball You know we we started you know shout out to Troy Norton He uh had the little cyclones when we were in second grade when I moved to town and um he allowed us to all play together and and I think it started then you know we we had a bunch of guys play on that team that graduated that same year that were on that that senior class team with the Cyclones So started in second grade You know we got to play summer ball together We played summer ball all the way up until we couldn’t play anymore um together And then every year on the court you know I had a an absence you know my junior year but I came back and you know was just playing with guys that I grew up playing basketball with So it was a special moment um being able to find success that senior year Um just feeling like everything we had worked for you know literally growing up you know paid off in in some sense You know we didn’t get the outcome we wanted but uh it was a special moment to be able to do it do that with those guys
Yeah that that team was a special team First maybe was it the first conference champion in a while or second one maybe second
it was it was right there and I mean and it was a run there of three or four years in a row that Russellville won the conference and again not it hadn’t happened in so long that people just weren’t used to that but again they weren’t used to seeing a guy like you on the court and you know I I don’t know if if and and I’m we’re hoping that the Pacer fans will get this as well but I don’t know if people understand really about the athleticism that you have I mean you’re shooting 45% from three which is something that did develop as as you went through high school but the athleticism that you have I mean you’re a high-f flyier I mean we talked about the 610 jumper That was where you started was the high-flying I remember at at one point counting you had over 50 dunks your senior year I mean it was a inordinate amount of dunks and and I mean you really electrified the Cyclone Nation and and just Arkansas in general I mean this was something that was was gaining traction throughout the state
Absolutely Um I would I would definitely say you know through high school I was I was the the athlete that got a bunch of dunks and you know as I’ve grown through college I’ve developed the jump shot and and now on scouting reports I’m more of a shooter and I kind of surprise people with my athleticism So it’s it’s interesting how um how things have kind of come full circle but um but yeah it’s a it’s a blessing man Um yeah
Yeah So this is something you’ve been under the radar now for so long even up until the point of Thursday when I had no idea that you were even going to get drafted Like it wasn’t on my radar The only thing I did see was your your father-in-law put out that you were working out for teams when I was like whoa Okay I had no idea that that your name was going to get called So we want to get to that first but let’s talk about your um your walk to get to this point So you started at Tennessee Tech Tell us what happened at Tennessee Tech and that you brought you back here to Arkansas Tech Yeah first of all like I want to give the all the credit you know for everything that I’ve I’ve overcome and and went through Um all glory to God You know without him I wouldn’t be here And even and not just the highs the lows like you said Tennessee Tech Um I would say great learning experience for me you know moving you know seven and a half hours away from home for the first time and and going out and and not getting the things that I wanted off the rip was definitely something that in the time I I didn’t think you know I questioned you know and it made me doubt myself and it made me it took me to a place you know that that I learned a lot Um but all that to say like it was just a a storm God put me through um that in the moment I didn’t know why but now I’m able to see you know why I had to go through what I went through to get to the point I’m at now So Tennessee Tech you know I wouldn’t I wouldn’t change it I wouldn’t change anything that happened You know it was great a great experience You know some great coaches that I still talk to to this day Um but yeah it was definitely a learning experience for me So you go from Tennessee Tech to Arkansas Tech Nobody knows about Arkansas Tech but people that are around here right i mean especially sports-wise I mean there’s been some success through the years but you’re talking about a division 2 school And when you came into Arkansas Tech it wasn’t like you were setting the world on fire there you know i mean you were you were coming around you got some playing time but I don’t know that anybody sat here and looked at you and said “Well that’s an NBA draft pick.”
Mhm
So tell us what happened when you first came to Arkansas Tech How did you get from the point that you started where you know lowest of lows at Tennessee Tech to where you became the player of the year in the conference how did you get to that point
yeah it was um honestly God humbling me and telling me that we’re going to get it his way Um so I went from thinking I got where I was because of me Um and I got put down to you know back home ground ground zero basically to to Arkansas Tech where you know I was like “Okay bet.” So I put my head down put my nose down and I grinded you know for those three years and and got it slowly but surely But the the main focus was building a foundation you know building a community around a team of people you know getting back around my people that held me accountable and kept me grounded um that allowed me to to focus on basketball and and develop my game over the three years that I was there and and just them instilling instilling confidence in me every single day and pushing me to be better and better um is ultimately what led to the success later on in my career at Arkansas Tech
And you are one that I mean now looking at this the co year was absolute blessing for you right i mean you get an extra year of school because of that
and that ended up being what set you to where you’re at right now
I mean it’s hard for me to explain but it’s it’s easy You know it’s it’s God you know right
it’s God you know he knew what was happening this whole time and I don’t know how else to explain it
So I I want to touch on that a little bit because you keep referring to God Um was was that and I know as a a young person um you don’t feel like you have to depend on God for different things but like as you get older and you mature you understand that you need God more and more and more Is that something that kind of happened with you as well
um absolutely Um you know I knew Christ um in high school you know I go to church camp I do all the things cuz I go to church you know do all the things But it was when you know I tell people I got put out on an island you know for the first time in my life where I was by myself and I didn’t have other people holding me up and keeping me straight where I realized that I have to form my own relationship So it was in that moment where the switch flipped you know and I I was starting to build my relationship with him and I came back here into Arkansas Tech and I I started building my foundation for myself So that when I could go out to to Liberty you know although it was a huge Christian school and I was surrounded by people there but
I had a foundation going 14 hours away from home
um with my wife and um I was able to to stand on my own two feet and and withstand the challenges cuz there there definitely was some challenges
Yeah Yeah So when you you got you went from Arkansas Tech to as the player of the year in the conference in division 2 which you guys went what what was the school in Minnesota that you went to the first round
uh Minnesota State Mano
you guys gave them all they wanted That was a one seed You guys were like an eight seed coming in and it was like like you you almost pulled it off But when you left Arkansas Tech you jump into the transfer portal You’ve left everything that you know You did you just mentioned that you were married Were you married that year or did you get married in between the time that you went to in Liberty
i got married in uh the transfer period in between
So So there you’re you’ve got all of this change and all of this upheaval but you’re going to Liberty and what was your mindset going to from that D2 school to the D1 school i mean was it I’m giving this my shot or what was it that that you’re you were thinking when you went to Liberty
yeah Uh it was a little bit of everything you know i was like I feel like I’ve I’ve put in the work here and I I’ve kind of earned you know a chance again to go back and and prove to myself what I thought I could do my freshman year uh and play but also with the maturity of knowing that I’m going up I want to challenge myself I like I don’t want to go in where something’s going to be given to me and where I’m just going to be able to dominate without working you know so I knew that going into it which which um is why like I came off the bench you know I was preparing for my pro career where I wouldn’t go and have everything handed to me So and I knew that going into it and I would say that’s a testament to the people I have in my circle who who have kind of matured me in that way So I knew going to Liberty was going to be a challenge Um I was going to have to work for everything that I had Um and I felt that I was prepared to do that So whenever I got there put my head down and and got to work and was okay with what what I had dealt to me
So you you’re flying under the radar this whole time I mean you’re talking about high school you’re flying under the radar College you’re flying under the radar but you’re at Liberty And when you first got there it wasn’t like they looked at you and said “Hey you’re a you’re a draft pick there.” you know I mean you were you were just getting your feet underneath you right what was the switch that flipped there though because you went from being that guy that maybe got a few minutes here and a few minutes there off the bench to now you’re one of their top players I know you won the six man of the year but did you not start some by the time the year was over
no I came off the bench the rest of the year Yeah But um yeah Um it was a challenge Um it was something that I’ve been under the radar my whole life and you know me and the people closest to me I would say um I believed this whole time You know if anybody asked I told them I was going to the league
right
and as much as somebody could have doubted or what not nothing nothing made me waver from that you know I knew I didn’t care what anybody else thought I knew like I was going to get what I what I was going to strive for and I wasn’t going to stop till I till I got there So um between that and then you know just God opening the doors for me to step through and and put perform um I was able to to achieve a lifelong dream
So you guys at Liberty began to gain traction as well As you’re gaining traction Liberty’s gaining traction you get to the NCAA tournament So that’s another it’s got to been a dream for you to be able to be on that stage Tell us what that was like
It was an it was an amazing experience uh to be able to do something that everybody dreams about as a kid with a group of guys that that you become so close with Um it’s an unbelievable experience Um like we didn’t get the outcome we wanted but you know we had achieved so much and we weren’t going to let that one game you know diminish what we had accomplished that year So obviously we’re going to use that they’re going to use that as a stepping stone next season and hopefully they can get there and win a game or whatnot But for us you know it was great experience you know even though we had to travel all the way to Seattle again but
it was it was I wouldn’t change it for the world man It was a once in a lifetime experience
So now you’re getting through the the season you’re you’re at the end of the year you’ve got a decision that you’ve got to make You got to figure out okay can I get another year of eligibility do I enter my name into the draft you know what was it so how did all of that process come together to get you to a point where you were working out for teams
yeah I knew I was going to test the waters Um throughout the the year we had talked about trying to get my year back just to get another year of development in the system under my belt that might have you know helped propel my my chances of of making it in the draft or making it to the NBA But I knew um that I was going to have some workouts before I had to withdraw my name and you know push came to shove I didn’t get the results I wanted with the the year Um so I had to go all in give it 100% all I had and and I’m beyond grateful for all the opportunities I had to get in front of people cuz obviously like I didn’t get invited to Portsmith I didn’t get invited to the G-League combine or the NBA combine So you know only seven teams got to see me So I’m still kind of under the radar Um but um which you know ended up working out so nobody else kind of knows what I got But um but yeah it’s uh how can you how else can you explain that you know that
you know as they said last night the first player ever to get drafted not ranked in the top 100 You know it’s
so many things that that I know that it wasn’t it wasn’t me You know it was somebody else that had ordered those steps and put my name in people’s minds to to draft me So it’s a supernatural thing that I think happened that um that I know that I have on my side So I walk in any room with that confidence um I think I’m going to be all right
That’s that’s really awesome attitude to have about it So you worked out for seven teams What were those teams
boston Charlotte Milwaukee Brooklyn Indiana Houston and San Antonio So what was the feedback that you got did you have any Inkling when you left that workout that you might get drafted maybe not drafted but definitely I was going to most of the workouts I felt I left feeling like I would get a shot in any in in one way or another I would get a shot So
I knew that I would have a shot But
you know with the help of my agent Sean I mean he was able to to pull it off last night So I I’m beyond grateful
So when was it that you knew that you were going to get drafted uh my agent Sean called me uh at the 52nd pick and told me that they were thinking about taking me and to have my phone ready So by the 53rd pick I got a phone call from my man Ryan Carr and he asked me first He asked me how I was doing and I I said “It depends on how this phone call goes.” and he was like “Well do you want to be a Pacer?” And I said “Absolutely.” And and you know having everybody around me and after I hung up the phone call everybody started going crazy and and they embraced me And it was it was one of the most special moments I’ve I’ve had in my entire life Something that you’ll remember for a lifetime I mean absolutely Basketball one day will be over but that moment will always remain because of of what you have achieved as as a basketball player You know I sit here and I look and you’ve got the Pacer shirt on and I think well I can go out and buy one of those but you got that one That one has given to you because you are an Indiana Pacer
I mean that’s got to be some sort of surreal feeling
Yeah man You know everybody who sees me in the Pacer shirt probably thought before last night that I went out and bought this but you know that’s a that’s a part of my story that that I love um and that I’ll never I’ll never take for granted you know
right tell us You know somebody’s going to watch this story and they’re going to look at this and they’re going to say “Well if this guy did it maybe I maybe I can do it.” Now I I’m going to sit here and tell you right now or tell somebody that that would be watching that might be thinking that You better have some pretty good athleticism to go along with whatever game because as you said people look at you as a shooter but you’re a 610 high jumper It takes a special type of athleticism to even get a look But at the same time here you are as a kid that had 1D1 offer It was Tennessee Tech People don’t go to the NBA from Tennessee Tech You transfer back home to Arkansas Tech People don’t go to the NBA from Arkansas Tech you get a chance after being the player of the year and and literally every year your your numbers go from what seven to 13 to like 20 or whatever it was at Tech you become the player of the year That doesn’t happen That kind of growth doesn’t happen And then all of a sudden now here you are you go to Liberty and in December I’m sure most people were saying this kid’s not going to I mean they’re not even thinking you’re going to get drafted and then all of a sudden you do So obviously like you said you feel like there’s something going on that’s beyond what we’re talking about But what would you say to a kid that has that dream that obviously has some attributes to go along with it because obviously you know a guy like me who could play ball and you know I was a good player in high school but I wasn’t anything like you But what would you say to somebody who has those abilities because they have to have some special ability to go along with it but maybe flying under the radar what would you say to them
yeah you definitely got to have some skill and some athleticism but um for me um don’t let anybody tell you you can’t you know and you can do it from anywhere If if I’ve done anything um to for these kids to look up to it’s you can you can make it from anywhere you know Being in Russellville I didn’t play on the circuit I didn’t play you know high major I didn’t do all the things that that people think you have to do to make it Um but mostly like don’t let anybody tell you that that you can’t you know cuz they don’t know what you do every on a daily basis They don’t know um how hard you work like I worked really hard and I’ve had some people say that I wasn’t good enough and that you know maybe I was making the biggest mistake of my life um in transferring or moving to so many schools or or taking a big risk but I bet on myself and I knew who I had behind me you know and um yeah I never I never quit on myself I’ll say that like I if anybody believed it was it was me and as long as you believe in self That’s That’s all it takes That’s all you need
That’s it That’s it What are the Indiana Pacers getting in Ton Peter first and foremost a man of faith Um and secondly somebody who’s had to work really really hard for for everything they’ve got So somebody who’s going to come in and work but also somebody who’s not going to complain about you know what’s given You know I’ve done a lot with a little bit So somebody who’s going to fulfill a role and and not be upset with minutes and just put their head down and grind you know cuz somebody who believes in themsel that knows that they’re capable of of succeeding at the highest level I’m a great teammate a great character guy I’m not going to bring any drama Um all the things you know whatever they need I’ll be it That’s it Appreciate you man
Yes sir Thank you That’s it All right Mom So here we are Tell me if somebody had told you three months ago that my boy is going to be called in the NBA draft What would you have said good possibility
Okay
Good possibility You believed in him Obviously he’s always believed in him I believe in him more than he does sometimes
And so yeah 100%
You just you knew it You knew it Coach McKay didn’t help Penny either when we were there talking about his extra year back
Yeah
So we were like “Well what if he doesn’t get extra year back?” And he said “He goes pro.”
And he said just like just like that right he goes pro Like
what a silly question And we were like “Okay I think he’s really real Amazing coach.” Yeah And what coach McKay says it just resonates
He’s amazing
So you’ve obviously you’ve watched this kid all the way up I mean Peewee Pee-Wee games not here but just over there
right
and the old Cyclone gym right you’ve seen
you’ve seen this this kid grow up but growing up all the way an amazing obviously an amazing talent because of the ability that he has to jump right that’s where it started We talked about it 6’10 high jump right
definitely
But nobody expected him to be able to get himself to where he’s at today
in basketball There might have been a couple people
right not very many Definitely
besides you and and maybe one or two others right
yeah definitely
So so how did we get from a a young man who lit it up his from his senior year in in basketball in high school on how did we get to where we’re at today two words hard work dedication That kid is amazing
Right So he he definitely is able to develop a shot We I was on the front row for that I watched him here as a senior covering him He wasn’t known as a guy that could step out and shoot the three And then as that year came on that three ball began to fall more and more and more And you know as he said you know now they’re looking at him as a shooter and a guy that can surprise you with his athleticism Um but a 6’10 high jumper is pretty good surprise right
they blend well together right
once he started jumping the hoops and the dunking you could see it His little 10step process right
he would do it out there starting at half court You were like “Here it comes.” Cuz he’s starting his you know now he doesn’t need that because he just jumps
So tell us tell us how we got there I mean he’s obviously blessed with something right i mean he’s 6’4 What is this vertical leap i’m not quite sure
It’s up there It’s up there
It’s high
38 I don’t know
Is plus possibly
That’s the same one Kobe Bryant had in the combine by the way 38 inches Okay Yeah
So he’s 6’4 He’s blessed with with athleticism for sure But how did he get to that point of of he’s going to dunk on you i mean his senior year was something to watch I mean it was it was something to watch I don’t know of anybody in the state that dunked as much as he did that year I mean he was a high flyer Was I mean and this place was filled up
literally because of that
I watched films of that too And the place just erupted
There’s one that there was a steal and then Ryan got a dunk and then Taylor came out of the pack with it and the whole place in here just you could just And then he dunked it Everybody went crazy Like memories made like for everybody You just in at least in this area you just don’t see that I mean kids in Little Rock there are some but even at that the the the athleticism is just different It’s just different
He gets this from He gets it from his mama
Oh yeah Yeah
Put my two cents in on that Okay Were you a high jumper and
No I wasn’t I did play volleyball
Okay
I played some basketball
Okay Okay But volleyball was my main sport
Well
we come from athletic jeans
Sure Sure
My dad was the first heavyweight wrestler at my high school at Rolling Story
Okay In 71
Okay
And so
there’s some genes of athleticism in there
It’s there
It’s there Yeah So you were there front row seat though You’ve watched him leave here go to Tennessee Tech What was that like to watch him go from here to Tennessee Tech it was the only division one offer that he had coming out of high school What was that like to let him go knowing that he was struggling he was he was hurting out there What was that like what was that
that was the biggest move Yeah
One it was the first move
right
two was seven hours away
Yeah
So it wasn’t something we could just jump and get together again right
and so and then co nothing was normal that year So I’d talk to him every night and he’d be in his room That’s all they could do was sit in the room and then they’d go to practice and so there wasn’t a lot of So that was a big growth year for him So everything comes full front That was a growth year for him and a lot developed in that time He got really one with himself He had to spend a lot of time alone because that’s what you did during co right
and so that was a big growth year for him The move wasn’t bad And with COVID there was a lot of breaks So he did end up driving that seven-hour drive a lot more than we ever thought he would because they’d be shut down cuz somebody had CO So they’d have a two week break and he’d pack his bags and head on home
And so yeah it was a good move for us It got us ready and then he came back And so
Right
which Yeah
And then he starts having high success I mean well I say that it didn’t start off that way at Tech I mean at Arkansas Tech so he goes from Tennessee Tech to Arkansas Tech It didn’t start off that way Tell us what when was it that you saw that at Arkansas Tech that the switch flipped and he became to starting to become the Tailon Peter that we know today believe in himself
Yeah
you got to believe in yourself And when he got picked to go to Tennessee Tech they had told him “You’re not quite ready for this level but in two years you are going to be out the roof.” Like so they already knew and like humbled him a little So we got to go there
and they already knew he was growing And that’s something about Tayen Like every game he gets better
still till this day Yeah
And that’s what the Pacers are lucky for cuz like he’s a great coachable kid He’s humble He brings this energy and he’s so teachable like he’s still growing like and that’s the cool thing about him is that his game is not fully developed yet either And so that’s very cool about Taylor
It is interesting a guy that that shot the ball as well as he did 45% from three I think I heard on the ESPN broadcast that he led the NCAA in true shooting percentage
I think I read that as well He set a school record for single season three points at Liberty this year That’s awesome
He set a record of coming off the bench with the most point I mean he
that’s what he does
Six man of the year in Conference USA
Um but it didn’t start out that way there either I mean at at Liberty there was still a growth time It was a learning curve there And then again kind of like at Arkansas Tech there was a switch that flipped at some point And you say it’s just belief
Belief Believing in yourself Yeah
Put yourself out there Like he never got a thousand points here cuz he’s so selfless
Yeah
Like if he would have shot every shot like shoot the ball and he passes it
Like have you ever met a kid to get taken out because he didn’t shoot the ball
Right
now you’ve met him Taylor You know it’s like shoot the ball or sit down Right
And it’s like shoot it And and I think u you know anybody that’s maybe from the the Pacers that might watch this this is something that they look at his numbers they say 13 points per game you know why do we draft the guy that only averaged 13 points per game but you really have to look that by the time he got to the end of that year he was putting up 20 points per game in Conference USA
going seven for seven right
I mean look at the stats he didn’t just take wild shots
right I and he was going right It was looking good
You’ve always believed You’ve always believe because I mean obviously a mother and a son I mean that just that’s just part of it right i mean if mom don’t believe in nobody’s going to believe in you But when do you think you saw maybe the athleticism or what it was that he might have the ability to get to where he wants to go probably junior year sophomore year it started Junior year we moved to Alma
That was a little change of scenery and then I think it’s almost like he appreciated more when he came back here Right
And that was when the hard work dedication with Cade early mornings up here every morning at 5 putting up shots just the two of them
Sure
You know and that was where it was like
okay
he’s really right He’s doing this
He’s believing in himself
straight up And so yeah that’s exciting And he’s many hours in this gym right
that gym the other gym any gym that’ll open the door right
he’ll be there
Um when you came back Kyle Pennington was a coach
Great coach
Right Tell us a little bit about the relationship there between him and Kyle Right That super special So lucky to have him I had to call him and say thanks because it all starts with a good coach you know good man good role model good everything And then he just
worked with Talon you know he let Tayen do him but yet he was there Advice with the other coaches that were contacting him He never hesitated to tell Talon give him options You know it’s like starts with that I think it’s
Love Kyle Pennington
Yeah he is
He’s one of a kind Definitely
He helped the process a lot I think I think that way the way you put it he’s one of a kind For sure And
and you know he lifted the program when he came here and and built belief So obviously he built belief in Talon as well
Definitely
That he could do
Yeah And um I’ve talked to him a little bit You know he’s coached some really good ones since and he you know
Yeah
And he told me shows you right Well he told me that Talon’s right up there with him I mean he’s coached
he’s coached some super athletes as well So when he got to Liberty I mean again he’s a long way away all that Maybe started struggling a little bit but he’s got a wife to depend on now a little bit right so it’s a little different
this time Do obviously I assume that Tennessee Tech probably played a role in the ability to adjust to out there
Yeah Liberty is one of a kind too When we went to for the visit it was like it felt so right that I don’t even know that he had a gap period when he went that he didn’t feel in the place that he wanted to be
just cuz the coaches and the staffs and the people in the university they were so supportive Ridiculous Like I don’t know that he ever went cuz he went straight to the gym
Yeah
And he was I mean it was just a different environment It was amazing I’m like Liberty So when did when did this thing become real to you that he really might either make a team or he may hear his name called in this draft
i guess when we learned that he wasn’t getting that fifth year back
Yeah
Because he was going to try but then timing So we had to make a choice And so it was like either fight for a year back and stay in college or do what we plan to do
right
go pro And so wherever he landed we knew he’d be landing somewhere
And so now this it’s like Houston we have landed Like I’m not sure exactly cuz I’m just like my mouth hurts my jaws hurt because I’ve been like
you just don’t even know what to do Right Well right And then like my kids in the NBA
right my my son got drafted last night Like
right
Surreal Very
It’s such a proud moment
Absolutely
I cried a lot We laughed a lot Cried a little more
Got in the pool afterwards He got driving He’s like to the pool And man
everybody ran out the door like a herd of cattle And we were jumping in jumping in It was amazing
A moment that you’ll probably always remember
forever Had everybody with them at my mom’s We were at Granny’s favorite foods loved ones family friends and yeah it got real loud as you can hear our voices right
i feel like I was at a game last night and I wasn’t
Well as as he said um you um
well he got drafted He’s the first guy that ever got drafted outside the top 100 I mean there’s been a lot of stuff Some would call it weird some would call it coincidence He says it’s God directing his steps
Is that that what you think Yeah
I’m a single mom but I know I’m not single because I’m never alone Right
And that’s who’s helped me with it all He’s walked with Taylor and he walks with all of us
right
never alone And believing that it’s not in our hands
And look at what happens
right
it’s amazing
It is amazing
It’s pretty special
So what do what do you think the Pacers are getting in Tailon Peter
oh man A great person good character a humble guy somebody that’s going to lift others up not afraid to say when he’s wrong a hard worker teachable listener just a role model for other people You just don’t know He’s meant to be there and he’s going to touch a lot of lives That’s for sure I didn’t even ask him this but let’s say let’s say five years from now where do you see your son what what will he be doing hopefully maybe a grandbaby or two That’s mom’s opinion And hope he’ll he’ll he’ll still be playing ball I not sure where I think the Pacers is going to be a great fit for him just cuz their beliefs and his beliefs they line up That was one thing during the camps It was like you could tell different camps went different ways They had different systems you know and just the organization and how they run it I think
Yeah he’s just super cool dude What What is it to you what is it like to think my son is on the team that just played for the NBA championship game seven i mean they were right there
Right there Yeah It’s surreal And next year I’m going to say they’re going to be predicted to be back right
so who knows what the first season could lead to I mean
who knows
you got two rings in two years Why not three
you You’ve got uh
I mean he Yeah You’ve got an NBA summer league that you got to get to first though right
looking for tickets now I’m looking them up right now and so we’ll see At least the first one got to make it just to
knock the dust off be there
right
and go to Vegas There you go
I’m just saying I think it sounds fun I think I just have to take it all in Tomorrow morning I’m going to wake up and be like did that really happen again cuz this morning I woke up my eyes popped open at 6:00 and I’ve been going ever since
And had to put the phone down last night Finally I was like “Okay
we got to get horizontal
You got to shut your eyes girl We’re never going to go to sleep.”
And so finally I did Put on the charger lay down fell right asleep First movement I heard I was up this morning I was like
I was ready to go again So
but yeah about to go back and get in that pool again celebrate some more
There you go
All weekend So that’s what’s up
All right
I appreciate everything The community is amazing Russellville support the shout outs It’s just a great community That’s for sure He’s helped out a lot in the process There’s one other guy in the whole in Russellville ever that’s been drafted in the NBA And uh he definitely made some waves He made some history in this in this community
Yeah
But when you look up there there’s one in the rafters that that’s been drafted I think there might need to be a second one What do you think pretty sure it’s coming Come next season we’ll lift something up there That’s for sure Should be that number two jersey Retire it Sleeve it in good measures
Put Peter above it
Peter above it
That’s it I can see it already It’s exciting Very blessed
Very blessed
Thank you very much for coming in talking to him
Spreading the word
Let’s get it out there if they didn’t know him now they do
Right
So check out his highlights There you go
It’s pretty amazing
All right Do you have anything from high school from him that I could maybe
like any videos at all i used to have I used to have some but
I have that one
that I was telling you all about about the whole when he comes out of the pack and everybody just like sees him with the ball and everybody just erupts right
and I mean we’re talking like 2020 this place was packed
Oh I know Like it wasn’t here there over there No this place
was packed And that night Corus and them came
Mhm
Corus Williamson night Yeah
Standing room only Just like the BB game when the conference champion I think it was BB or Bolognia
Yeah
You went down there and they were letting one in one out
And it was standing room only And it was just electric
Yeah High school wise uh these types of gyms they don’t fill up very much
Yeah It’s hard They’re big
Yeah they’re huge
They’re huge But Yeah So I’ll have to send you that video I’ll send you a couple
Yeah I’d like to have it I’d like to
Yep For sure Because that’s one of them Going down in history Yeah
Now right The journey continues
The journey continues Right Exciting Next chapter next season
All right
I’m excited
Well let’s bring Maris in Let me get his perspective And I don’t know
For sure Twin twin
right i don’t know if uh he is
Come on Who’s sitting at the front at the nursing home uh nobody today I definitely uh had to let them know you know it’s going to be a long night for me Uh I think I ended up going to sleep around 4 in the morning
Yeah
Uh yeah Just up It’s hard to just sit still I mean it’s a surreal moment you know U we grew up playing basketball games on the PlayStation and all that So just knowing that he’s going to be a part of that uh it’s going to be crazy Yeah Sky’s the limits for him
right literally Yeah
Now are you guys twins yes fraternal twins Yes sir
And it’s kind of crazy cuz I guess I don’t know the scientical stuff behind it but I guess I was a complicated twin and he was born like an hour and some uh before I was so like crazy He used to hold it over my head uh being being an hour ear older than me but yeah Uh not so much anymore but yeah
So what was it like to watch his his journey i mean you know we I’ve talked about it with your mom and and with him I mean what’s it like to to see I mean again I I didn’t expect this
I didn’t expect it last night
Yeah Crazy Um honestly uh I like I was just telling Kate over there I was like man uh I still remember the first AAOU travel ball game that he went up and dunk the ball on a fast break and it was just like it was like after that moment I don’t think he ever shot too many layups after that It was pretty much just jump as high as you can and and throw it down And um yeah and then just from travel ball to middle school junior high and just seeing him every year just slowly develop and get better and better and focus on the things that he wasn’t as strong at and now I can’t even think of too many weaknesses that he’s got in his game So
yeah his game has definitely developed I mean it it’s different than it was here and
it’s different than it was when it started at at Tennessee Tech and it’s different than it was when it started at Arkansas Tech And I mean even being able to develop into being the the conference player of the year it’s still probably different now to the point where the six man of the year award there in the conference USA And I mean what a an absolute awesome achievement that he had where he goes from from being the conference player of the year in D2 to trying to find his way into a D1 program
to eventually becoming the sixth man of the year
And we talked about how that Yeah he started off a little bit slow at Liberty but by the end of the year
he was blowing up
Yeah I mean I think it was just all about his confidence you know Um just going from you know comfortable and having like tight friends at Tech that he’s known his whole life and then going you know what was it 14 hours uh to Virginia and then meeting new people new coaches um I bet you it was ran completely different than he had been used to And so once he felt like uh he found his stride and just started you know feeling like he was more incorporated in the game up at Liberty uh I just think that’s when he started thinking you know what I can I can ball with these guys you know
D2 uh he showed out and even Yeah it didn’t take him very long to start showing out in D1
right and and uh
all the way up to being drafted And I mean for me that’s still hard to wrap my mind around just because I covered him in high school You know I’d see you at work Hey how’s brother what’s he doing what’s going on with him
you know always just trying to get an update for what was going on And then all of a sudden here we are now we’re sitting here and we’re talking about an NBA draft pick
literally Yeah Um it’s just crazy And then um whenever I found out he was just working out with these NBA teams it just it felt like just showed more and more how real this is becoming because I mean like not everybody gets to experience that Uh let alone just to get to work out with some of these teams And for one of those teams to actually draft him and want him to be a part of their organization is just it just speaks a lot on his character Uh he’s a great ball player but uh I think his character is going to carry him a long way Uh with the Indiana Pacers what do you think the Indiana What do you think the Indiana Pacers are getting in Ton Peter
uh I truly feel like they’re getting a guy that can play very different roles Um like U Tech you know if he needed to be the guy with the green light that needed to get you guys a bucket or score for you or you know create that spark he did or if he just needed to find his role either coming off the bench or just being that sixth man that can just come in and keep that energy up I just think they got a allaround steel honestly Uh not many people uh would think that he’s capable of doing a lot of what he can do and that’s just the sneaky factor he’s got on him It’s just
a lot of people didn’t really
uh put him in the best light to just be this guy that’s going to get drafted and then for him to just prove everybody wrong every single time It’s just like it’s just really motivational you know
i mean and I I think you know the theme of all of this has been you know he’s went from under the radar to under the radar to under the radar to even now under the radar I mean he’s a second round pick
but I mean what has happened to him just doesn’t happen I mean kid from Russellville Arkansas There’s one kid in the whole history of Russellville that’s ever been drafted in the NBA That’s that’s a guy that ended up being the most outstanding player of the NCAA and all that stuff I mean
even with Tailon now it’s that that part is different But the fact that there’s only been one that’s
that’s where we’re at That was 30 years ago
And then you know going from high school where zero stars
you know going to Tennessee Tech Nobody goes to the NBA from Tennessee Tech
Yeah
Nobody goes to the NBA from Arkansas Tech Liberty doesn’t even send that many to the NBA if they you know not not very many at all I want to say they said it was like 1989 or some crazy
you know separation from the last player that went from Liberty And I think they even said this was probably the highest one of the Liberty players has ever gone in the draft So I thought that was pretty awesome too He’s just known for breaking records at this point
It’s just it’s just different There’s just a different there’s a different aura about everything that’s went on with with Talon And of course he he’s gotten off into the religious part of it
Yeah
And nothing I mean nothing wrong with that at all Um there has to be something good going on there right
yeah Yeah Literally
you know you know uh that’s one thing I loved about Liberty is they helped him you know grow a very strong relationship with God and him just putting all his faith into that knowing that he’s gonna carry him across the finish line and look at what all he’s done You know every single time he’s
and he even the ups and downs when he was down he’s he stayed true to the process and it just shows literally last night when they called his name
Sure
And I’m just Yeah Like I was telling them I got this weird sensation in my hands just thinking about what all is going to be going on within this next year and just how much his life is just going to change for the better
right what was it like growing up with him i mean you guys I know you were more into football like
Yes I was I was football guy Um he always kept me uh pretty passionate about basketball Uh you know always taking me outside You know we had this little kind of rundown basketball goal You know had pieces of the backboard missing but man we’d just be out there recording ourselves making videos of us shooting dunking and just you know making basketball just what it is It’s just ultimately a fun game to play And then yeah just growing up with them and just I think it’s crazier cuz I’m his brother and it’s just like you know I I feel like I can give him all the the trash talk and all that but it’s just like to see him continue to grow as a basketball player and just a young man is just like just a beautiful thing to see And I feel like I have the best seat in the house for it And uh yeah I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else or have another brother just he’s just the best thing you know It’s good stuff So what what do you think when uh like now you’re you’re going to get a chance to maybe even see him oh you will You’ll see him on TV literally Yeah
You know with the summer league I mean they basically just about every game seems like on TV now
Yeah What’s that like to think my brother about to be out in Las Vegas at the NBA summer league and uh who knows what happens from there right
yeah Um I just know uh when he goes he’s just going to go do what he does best and that’s just play basketball And uh I know there’s going to be a lot of eyes on him And uh I know he’s going to put on for the cameras He’s going to definitely show what Talon can do Um but yeah it’s just going to be crazy uh turning on the TV and just seeing oh hey is that Tenon checking into the Indiana Pacer summer league game and yeah I was just uh making jokes saying whenever that jersey releases man I’m going to need to get me one
cuz I’mma wear it every day and I’m not going to wash it wear it every game you know going to build some good luck on that thing There you go
But yeah I’m excited I’m just
man I just can’t even words can’t describe how excited and happy I am for him and just our family in general This is just a beautiful moment for us And it’s just like you said it was a little unexpected but then when it happens it’s just you have no other choice but to believe it’s happening and know it’s real I think that’s good right there
All righty man Thank you
Appreciate you
Yes sir [Music]

Former Russellville Cyclone, Arkansas Tech Wonderboy, and Liberty University Flame Taelon Peter was selected as the 54th over Pick to the Indiana Pacers on Thursday Night. Peter was one of two people connected to Arkansas that was drafted. Peter talks about his hoops journey as an under the radar basketball player his whole career. #IndianaPacers #Pacers #basketball #hoopsjourney #RussellvilleCyclone #2025nbadraft #LibertyFlames #ArkansasTechWonderboys

Don’t forget to join this channel to get access to perks:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUfXyfKb3JrEymUD3zzBzfQ/join