In spite of being the 2011 Idaho 5A Boys’ Basketball Player of the Year, Connor Hill didn’t receive much attention coming out of high school.
Amelia C Warden | Argonaut
Connor Hill shoots a 3 against Sacramento State.
Washington State showed interest in Hill, but the program wanted him as a preferred walk-on rather than a scholarship player.
Idaho coach Don Verlin took a chance and offered Hill a full-ride scholarship to play for the Vandals. Four years later, Hill is Idaho’s leading scorer and career leader in 3-pointers made.
“I’m just thankful for the coaches, that coach (Don) Verlin gave me the opportunity to come here, because there were a lot of teams and programs that didn’t think I was quite good enough,” Hill said. “They’re like ‘He’s a good shooter, he’s a good player, but can he be successful at D I?’ And for me, I always had confidence. I thought I could play at the D I level for sure.”
Hill is one of three Idaho seniors heading into the final game of the season. Hill, Mike Scott and Bira Seck play in their final men’s basketball game in Moscow Saturday in Memorial Gym against Montana State.
Hill, originating from Post Falls, Idaho, is the only Idaho native on the Vandals’ roster and the only fourth-year senior on the team.
While Hill and Verlin were quick to point out how Hill has improved as an overall player, 3-point shooting has always been his forte. Hill is currently third in the nation in 3-point field goal percentage at 46.3 percent and fourth in the nation in 3-point field goals per game with 3.52.
“It means a lot,” Hill said of his 3-point record at Idaho. “I don’t think about it that much on a daily basis, but when I do think about it, it holds a special place in my heart. It’s coach Verlin and this university that gave me a shot and I did something special with it. I’m just thankful for that.”
Saturday, former Post Falls teammate Marcus Colbert will be in Memorial Gym on Senior Night, but he won’t be there to support Hill. Colbert averages 11.9 points per game as a guard for the Montana State Bobcats this season.
“Playing against Marcus, it’s always fun,” Hill said. “Always trash talking with him, things like that. I know his family and friends will be down for that game too.”
In addition to his accolades on the basketball court, Verlin said he was also impressed with Hill’s dedication in the classroom. Hill is studying business at Idaho.
“He’s got one more semester to do, two or three more classes after this year,” Verlin said. “But to come to the University of Idaho and graduate in business — which it’s a very good business school here — to do that in four and a half years, and to do that with well over a 3.0 GPA and to accomplish the things that he has on the court — that’s pretty special.”
Stephan Wiebe can be reached at [email protected]