Seton-LaSalle standout Connor Spratt uses social media draw D-I interest
PITTSBURGH (BVM) — Connor Spratt decided to take a measured approach to his college recruitment. The 6-foot-2 junior basketball player at Seton-La Salle High School started an account on Twitter in August 2020 with the idea of promoting his quest to play at the next level.
Spratt tagged local media members who cover high school sports, college coaches and his AAU team as his own kind of public relations agency. By utilizing social media, he was able to get highlights out, promote his stats and provide a place for coaches to reach out.
“Talking to older teammates that have been in the game longer than me, they said Twitter is big for your recruitment,” Spratt said. “They all said social media was the No. 1 thing for college.”
Thanks to his excellent play — Spratt averaged 26.4 points per game as a junior — and his newly-developed skill, Spratt was able to get the word out. Spratt, who has a 4.8 GPA, has drawn interest from Drexel, Lehigh, Lafayette, Bucknell, Colombia, Harvard and Yale.
Despite leaning heavily into the social media scene, Spratt made a conscious effort to avoid any pitfalls. He didn’t want to post anything to draw negative attention to himself.
“I have to make sure I am only putting out good stuff,” Spratt said. “It’s mostly basketball clips.”
When it comes to his basketball games, Spratt prides himself on being an efficient player. Despite the gaudy scoring average, Spratt was able to score at that clip despite only averaging 13.8 shots per game.
Seton La-Salle has a strong season, recording a 15-4 record overall and winning the Section 3-2A crown by compiling a 7-1 record in section play. Despite the regular-season success, the Rebels were bounced in the first round of the Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic League playoffs by Steel Valley.
Spratt couldn’t participate in the postseason because he had transferred from Peters Township to Seton-La Salle for his junior season. The Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association bars players who transfer from postseason play unless they appeal for a waiver that shows they didn’t switch schools with athletic intent.
“It was a shame,” Spratt said about not playing in the playoffs. “We were doing so well all year and were the four seed going into the playoffs. It was hard to watch. It was a shame not being able to help my team.”
Part of being able to help his team is staying healthy. Spratt, who plays for AAU for Wildcats Select, plays basketball year-round. Being able to prevent burnout is centered around making sure he stays healthy.
“My trainer, and I have a cousin who is a physical therapist, who have shown me certain exercises to do for me knee,” Spratt said. “I have a knee problem and I’ve been told I overuse my knees. I always have to make sure I have proper sleep. I take cold showers to keep the blood flowing. I also drink more water than anyone.”
Playing in the AAU circuit has been a valuable part of Spratt’s development. He already participated in a tournament in Indianapolis in April.
“The most valuable lesson I learned with AAU is there’s a lot of talent out there,” Spratt said. “You might think you are the best in your area, but when you get out there with AAU, everyone can play. Everyone is the best from their areas as well.”
Spratt is eager to get back with his high school teammates and showcase what the Rebels can do in the playoffs next season.
That will provide Spratt with a few more clips to distribute to his self-created Twitter mailing list.