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SIDNEY — For much of the past year, Taylen Carver wasn't worried about scoring points, winning games or making highlight plays. 

He was focused on something far more basic. 

Flexing a muscle. 

After suffering a season-ending injury last November, the returning Montcalm Community College guard from Louisville, Kentucky spent six and a half months rehabbing in hopes of returning to the court. 

Now healthy and preparing for the start of the 2026-27 season, Carver says the experience changed him both physically and mentally. 

"It feels amazing to be back honestly," Carver said. "I had a long six-and-a-half months of rehab to get back healthy and to get to the shape I am in right now. I couldn't be happier to be back on the court playing." 

Since arriving on the Sidney, Michigan campus, Carver has taken over as a leader on the team, not only leading the team in statistics, but also heart. When his season ended with the injury, Ingles and his team had to regroup and find a way to move on without their leader.  

Thanks to great teamwork and players like Zhian Briggs (Augusta, Ga.) stepping up to help fill Carver’s role on the court, the Centurions managed to reach the NJCAA regional tournament and advance to the quarterfinals, which was the team’s preseason goal. 

To have Carver back means the Centurions’ heart is whole again, Ingles said. 

“Tay is who we all think he is — one of the best players in the country,” Ingles said. “His body is healthy. Now he has to get his mind set. He’s working on that. He didn’t get cleared until spring or early summer. So he’s making progress every day. It’s been good having him back leading a talented group.” 

Carver’s recovery process was gradual. 

He worked with physical therapists in both Michigan and his home state of Kentucky, crediting them for helping him return stronger than before. 

"They didn't just do their job," he said. "They cared about how I did the exercises and wanted to help me get back to the best version of me they possibly could." 

The process tested his patience. 

Following surgery, Carver was unable to properly activate his quadriceps muscle. What followed were months of repetitive exercises and incremental progress. 

"Every day, I did the exercises my surgeon gave me," he said. "I got 1% better and could do new things." 

It took roughly five months before he regained enough strength to run and another month before he could begin jumping and participating in basketball workouts. 

"That's a lot of days doing simple exercises that can get very boring," Carver said. 

To stay motivated, he focused on small victories. 

"The last thing I learned while I was out is that small milestones can be huge ones sometimes," he said. 

The injury also changed his understanding of leadership. 

"Leadership doesn't just come from being on the court with my teammates," Carver said. "It comes with being off and injured, as well." 

Even while sidelined, he remained active around the program, supporting teammates throughout the season. 

"I was still there for my teammates and encouraging them and letting them know I still have every single one of their backs," he said. 

Carver said the recovery taught him valuable lessons about maintaining his body. 

"One thing I learned is that I need to take way better care of my body and listen to it more often," he said. "That means drinking more water, stretching and eating the right foods." 

His return has provided a major boost for the Centurions. 

Carver's return comes at an ideal time for a Centurions team featuring one of the deepest rosters in program history. 

"This team has so much talent," Carver said. "Everyone is great at many things, but when we come together, we can't be stopped." 

What excites him most is the team's ability to play at a faster pace than last season's group. 

"We will win games this season because we will destroy teams by running them out of the gym on offense and then coming down on the other end and absolutely hounding them on defense," he said. 

Carver believes last year's squad succeeded largely through execution in the half-court. This year's team, he said, can beat opponents in multiple ways. 

"Last year's team was a great team and a very different team than this year's team," Carver said. "We ran sets and destroyed people in the half court last year. This year, we can run some sets and we can get out in transition and run other teams into the ground." 

For a player whose season once seemed lost to months of rehabilitation and uncertainty, simply stepping back onto the court is a victory in itself. 

Now, Carver hopes his comeback can help push the Centurions to even greater heights. 

"I'm ready to do whatever it takes to help the team win," he said, "and make this season our best one yet."