Grayslake North's Connolly soars in record-breaking season

Eyes locked in on that first shot, the first of what promised to be many from the freshman who drew an Opening Night start for the varsity basketball team. Ryan Connolly, a leaper with good shooting form, soared and launched from beyond the arc.

Would the result be an indicator of what was to come the next four years?

Grayslake North sure hoped not.

"My most vivid memory from my first varsity start was that my first shot was an airball," Ryan Connolly, admitting nerves got to him, said with a laugh. "But after that I made a 3, so it was all right."

Connolly's second shot against Lake Zurich at Richmond-Burton on that November night in 2016 more accurately gave a glimpse of what Grayslake North could expect from the teen with athleticism beyond his years. Fast forward to this season, which saw him score 678 points, including 46 in one game, hiking his career point total to 1,525. All three numbers established school records.

And he has his senior season to go.

"I'm excited to see what happens (next season)," Connolly said. "I'm just going to keep working and we'll see what I end with."

This season ended for Connolly and his teammates on their home court with a loss to 28-game winner Waukegan in a Class 4A regional semifinal. But Connolly's prolific offensive season, which led Grayslake North to 17 wins against what coach Todd Grunloh called the toughest schedule in the program's 13-year history, has earned the 6-foot-2 junior forward the honor of Daily Herald All-Area Captain in Lake County.

"He is an exceptional athlete and an exceptional scorer that can score from the post, from the perimeter and off the dribble getting to the basket, and perhaps his greatest strength as a scorer is using his dribble to use his jump shot/pullup," said Grunloh, the only head coach in his program's history. "If teams tried to go small and deny him the ball, he would score in the post. If teams tried to go big and be physical with him, he would score from the perimeter. Every team we played this season obviously knew that our offense ran through Ryan, and rarely did teams limit his offensive production."

A repeat All-Area selection, Connolly averaged 22.6 points, 7.3 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per game, often playing all 32 minutes. He was at his best against Streamwood at Lake Zurich on the morning of Jan. 21, as his 46 points led the way in the Knights' 89-82, MLK-tournament win.

He sank 16 shots, including a 3-pointer, and made 13 of 17 free throws. It was the first time a Grayslake North player had ever scored 40 points in a game.

"At the end of the third quarter, I had 34 points," Connolly accurately remembered. "This is one of my favorite memories of the year. I looked at my coaches (Grunloh and assistant Tim Hough) and I told them I'm going for 40."

Their reaction?

"Grunloh said, 'You better,' " Connolly said.

Connolly's season also included a 32-point effort against Huntley in the Knights' season opener and 30-point games against Buffalo Grove, North Chicago and Wauconda. While he relied more on driving to the basket, shooting midrange jumpers, dunking either with one or two hands and getting to the foul line to score his points, he still made 24 3-pointers. He got to the foul line often, making 180 of 237 free throws (76 percent). He credits being more aggressive for that.

The Knights needed him on the boards too, since backup Zach Carter (6-3) was the only player on the roster taller than Connolly.

"I've been working a lot on ballhandling and defense the last few years, and I definitely think my defense has improved," said Connolly, who likes the power and aggressiveness of LeBron James and tries to play a similar style. "I'm still working on ballhandling. ... I think I've gotten more explosive and more physical (since freshman year)."

Late in the season, Connolly vaulted past Aidan Einloth (1,446 points) to became Grayslake North's all-time scoring leader. Einloth, who played at MIT and has played pickup games against Connolly, texted him.

"He congratulated me and told me that if anyone was going to break it, it should be me," said Connolly, who also passed up his big brother James on the Knights' all-time scoring list this season. "That's what I was pushing for this year. I made a goal to beat the scoring record, but I didn't think I'd get it this year. So it's a blessing."

Since the time he dunked for the first time - for Grayslake North's feeder team as an eighth-grader - Connolly has grown 4-5 inches and watched his game soar. College coaches from Concordia University in Nebraska, Trine University in Indiana and Bowdoin College in Maine have contacted him this month.

"It's relieving," Connolly said of finally hearing from college coaches.

There is no relief for Grayslake North opponents. Connolly still has lots to accomplish.