Freshman to Watch: Ryan Conway (2021)
The future of Maryland high school basketball is in very good hands. We saw this already with an over-the-top 2020 class that made their debuts in the high school hoops scene last year, and now we welcome another tremendous group of freshman for the class of 2021. Headlining that class is Dulaney point guard Ryan Conway.
For avid high school basketball followers, you’ve probably seen Conway’s highlight tapes somewhere on YouTube or Twitter of him making his defender look lost before burying a three or attacking the basket and finishing one of his crafty lay ups. Coming into his freshman season looking to be the Lions’ starting floor general, you’ll see much of the same even at the varsity level.
Following his productive summer with Team Takeover, Conway hasn’t slowed down in terms of shining at events that he has participated in. Just recently, he took home Co-MVP honors of the 8EYE Classic held in Philadelphia, the MVP in the GetMeRecruited SE All-Freshman Invitational in North Carolina and was selected to participate in the UA Next Experience game at Georgetown Prep, which featured all of the top freshman from around the country.
Conway’s game will catch the crowd’s eyes right away because of his flashy moves with the basketball, but an overlooked part of his game is his basketball IQ. He understands the flow of the game and what is a good shot for that particular possession. For him though, that part still a work in progress as he looks to be the facilitator this year for the Lions.
“I’m really trying to improve my overall point guard skills,” the six-foot guard told Prep Hoops. “Just knowing when to set guys up and then when to look for my own shot. I have so many teammates around me that can score, so when I drive I can kick to them for a bucket.”
Those teammates he is talking about include senior guard Josh Cornish (Southern Utah commit), wing Che Evans Jr. (a top 2020 prospect) and his freshman counterpart Ike Cornish. And those aren’t the only players that Dulaney has that can put the ball in the basket. Conway is going to have plenty of options, but head coach Matt Lochte also doesn’t want him to play in a manner that put his game in a splint.
“He just has told me over and over to play my game,” Conway said. “I know I’ll have a lot of learning to do, but it’s a good feeling to know that he just wants me play my game.”
The Lions have potential to light up the scoreboard with Conway, [Josh] Cornish, Evans and [Ike] Cornish. The obvious question heading into the season is whether they’ll all learn to play together as a team. Each of them are used to being the first or second option on every team they’ve played. Mix that with their young age, and usually it would be a cause for concern. However, Conway explained that they all already have great relationships both on and off the court. The season hasn’t even tipped yet and they feel like a family.
That’s step one of “the process” that Coach Lochte preaches to his players. Now, we wait and see how the rest unfolds. One thing is certain, with Conway at the helm, the Lions are going to be a force for the next four years in Baltimore County.