Prospect Spotlight: Connor McClean (2020 Mountainside HS)

<p><strong>Connor McLean</strong> has been around, having played on the varsity squad at Southridge the past couple of years. But this season will be a bit different for the athletic 6-foot-5, 180-pound wing. He's made the move to Mountainside and his hope is that his final season in high school will help him reach his academic and athletic goals at the college level.</p> <p>Since transferring to Mountainside in the spring, the transition has been pretty seamless for McClean. "I've grown up with most of these guys so it's just like being home for me really," McClean said. "Southridge was great to me but here it's like home."</p> <p>McClean started building some comraderie with his old friends but new teammates this summer on an Elite 24 AAU squad. "It was a good experience and we got four of the five guys in the (Mountainside) program to play together," McClean said. "We traveled around the country and built bonds that we'll need for this season going forward."</p> <p>Going along with the team-building aspect, McClean also got a chance to work on his game. "Driving and going to the hoop especially, that's one thing I worked on a lot," McClean said. "Just focusing on the hoop and really finishing through it instead of losing focus halfway in the air."</p> <p>A high academic student, McClean got a chance to showcase his game in front of some college coaches. He's already been in touch with some D-III and NAIA schools, specifically George Fox, Pacific Lutheran, and Westmont. A potential Biology major with a 3.86 GPA and 1170 SAT score looking to eventually pursue medical school and become a dentist or orthodontist, McClean is keeping his recruitment open but has an idea what he's looking for athletically.</p> <p>"Really anywhere that will provide me a place to play early on," McClean said. "I'd like to develop my game over the course of four years instead of like two or one. So anywhere that's going to play me, that's what I'm looking for. Hopefully this year will produce some more interest."</p> <p>An athletic wing who can score both in and out, McClean is looking forward to his senior year with the Mavericks. "We have a ton of potential and in fall league we showed some great things," McClean said. "Hopefully we can make a big run this year and put our name in the history books."</p> <p>McClean currently ranks as the #64 player in the PrepHoops Oregon Class of 2020 rankings.</p>