Coming into this basketball season, the Blue Devils needed to have younger guys step up big for them this season, and Connor Mayes has done just that.
Averaging 7.1 PPG, 3.4 RPG, and 1.4 APG as a sophomore is an impressive accomplishment. Most sophomores do not even see the floor, so a player putting up these numbers on varsity is a testament to his skill level.
For this reason, Mayes is this week’s BluePrint Athlete of the Week.
This season has had its ups and downs for the Blue Devil basketball team. At the start of the year, star point guard, Holden Schreier, missed the first couple of the weeks with a foot injury. Then, as soon as he returned to the lineup, another star point guard, Collin Gibbons, would also go down with an ankle injury.
One thing has remained constant: the over performing of the younger players, Mayes being one of them.
Mayes is a forward, and coming into this season he was unsure of whether or not he would be playing a major role on the team; however due to offseason work he earned his spot in the rotation. This summer he played AAU basketball for All Day Hoops and attended summer basketball practices. This work and dedication allowed Mayes to hone in his skills.
While this season may not be going to plan for the Blue Devils, Mayes still enjoys the time that he gets to spend with his teammates. In fact, he says that his favorite part of being on the team this year is spending time with his teammates on the bus. However, that does not mean that Connor is complacent. His goal for the rest of the season is to try to bring the team as close to a .500 season as possible.
Throughout his life, Connor has accredited his father, Tom, with being his biggest role model. In the sports section of his life he again gives his father credit, along with coaches, teachers, and senior leadership from both his football and basketball teammates.
After high school, Connor plans on joining the military.
