"Three-Level Fire, Two-Way Grit and a Relentless Competitive Edge"

Connor May

@ConnorMay2027

6'5, 200lbs, Class of 2027

Swansboro HS, NC

Connor is a versatile and physical wing that can attack a defense from all three levels while making his presence felt far beyond scoring. Connor can stretch the floor, create damage inside the arc, battle through contact around the rim, attack the boards, and use his size to defend multiple positions. What gives that skill set even more punch is the toughness behind it, because he embraces physical basketball and is willing to adjust his role depending on what his team needs. Whether that means putting points on the board, fighting for rebounds, taking a difficult defensive assignment, or creating an opportunity for a teammate, winning is at the heart of how Connor approaches the game.

That complete impact showed throughout last season as Connor averaged around 18 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 steals per game while earning First Team All-Area, First Team All-Conference, and All-District honors. His scoring immediately grabs attention, but his all-around production shows how many ways he affected each night. Connor could provide offensive firepower while crashing the boards and creating problems defensively, giving his team a weapon capable of leaving fingerprints all over a game. Those postseason honors were recognition of a season where his combination of production, toughness, and versatility continued to stand out against the competition in front of him.

Connor believes his biggest improvement came from becoming a more complete and confident basketball player rather than relying on one particular strength. His scoring arsenal expanded, his handles improved, his ability to guard different positions became stronger, and he grew more comfortable creating opportunities for teammates. That growth has opened more possibilities within his game because defenders have more to worry about when he catches the basketball. Connor is continuing to elevate his shooting consistency, tighten his ball handling, become stronger around the basket, and improve his ability to create offense when high-level defenders take away the first option.

There is another gear inside Connor that tends to come alive when the lights get brighter, and the gym starts rocking. A packed house, a loud crowd, and a competitive game bring out an extra level of fire because he enjoys playing when the energy and pressure rise together. Instead of shrinking when attention grows, Connor feeds off the atmosphere and allows that intensity to pour into his game. Those are the moments when his competitive nature can become contagious.

His goals have remained focused on steady growth, winning, and putting himself in position to compete at the next level. Connor wants to improve every day rather than become satisfied with what he's already accomplished, while helping Swansboro chase championships remains a major part of what drives him. His upcoming senior season gives him another opportunity to test everything he's built against stronger competition and continue proving how much his game has developed. With another offseason of work behind him, Connor enters that opportunity determined to show an even more dangerous version of the three-level scorer and two-way competitor he's become.

The road has also forced Connor to develop toughness away from the scoreboard, as injuries and moving multiple times because of his father's military career have challenged his ability to adjust when circumstances suddenly change. Those experiences taught him to focus on what he can control instead of allowing frustration to dictate his response. Discipline, work, and patience became important pieces of how he handles difficult moments, and setbacks have increasingly become fuel rather than excuses. That mentality carries directly onto the court, where a bad possession, difficult stretch, or physical battle doesn't have to determine what happens next.

Connor still sees plenty of room to grow, and that hunger could be one of the most important parts of his senior year. At his size, improving his handles and shot creation can make him more difficult to contain because defenders already have to respect his ability to score from multiple spots. Becoming more of an impactful outside shooter can stretch defenses farther away from the basket, while stronger decision-making can help him recognize when to attack, create for someone else, or allow the possession to develop. The foundation is already there, and now Connor is working to add more control and consistency to a game that already brings plenty of fire.

I assess that Connor has an impressive blend of size, three-level scoring ability, defensive flexibility, and toughness that allows him to impact basketball in multiple ways. His willingness to absorb contact and compete on the boards gives his game a physical edge, while his improving creation skills add another layer when the ball is in his hands. Continued growth with his jumper and handles can make those weapons even more dangerous because his size already creates matchup problems against smaller guards and wings. His competitiveness ties everything together, giving him an approach built on doing whatever the moment requires rather than chasing one particular part of the stat sheet.

Connor has the size, skill, and versatility to keep expanding his impact as his offensive game becomes even sharper and more complete. Greater command off the bounce will give him more freedom against aggressive defenders, and improved reads will unlock easier opportunities when extra attention comes his way. Connor enters his senior season with plenty already accomplished, but his desire to keep expanding his game could make what comes next even more exciting. Stay tuned.