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When Connor Dubsky visited Putnam Science Academy back in April, one thing was very apparent to him that helped him decide it was the place for him.
“I heard a lot of languages being spoken,” said Dubsky, one of the newest members of PSA’s prep basketball team. “It’ll be cool to be in an environment with people from all over the world and learn about how they live and how they think, and that it’s differently than I do. I’m really looking forward to that part of it.
“I’m trying to build a lot of relationships and connections, but not just in the basketball spectrum. The idea is to build them with other students, with the people there. I want to be able to get to know everybody and build off that. Obviously, I want to become prepared for college basketball and rack up more college offers and one day play in the NBA, but to continue to grow as a person, as a man, is really important to me.”
As for the basketball piece, Dubsky, a 6-foot, 4-inch guard from Woodbridge, Va., looks to be an exciting piece as the Mustangs chase back-to-back national titles, and their fourth overall. Dubsky is a three-level scorer who has had an outstanding summer on the court. He went into the first live recruiting period with three scholarship offers, and came out with 17 all together, including from Maryland, Kansas State, Bryant, URI, and Wichita State.
PSA assistant coach Nick Schmidt once worked hard to recruit Dubsky to Catholic University, when Schmidt was coaching there.
“At that point, Connor was a really good Division III, Division II player,” Schmidt said. “I knew he could really score the ball, but never in a million years did I think he was a Division I player. Credit to Connor, he’s a gym rat. He has turned himself into a high major D1 basketball player and I couldn’t be more excited about him being at Putnam Science.”
It’s been quite a leap for Dubsky, who only recently realized how good he could be.
“I’ve played basketball since middle school, but I only started loving the game this past school year, if I’m being honest,” he said. “I know that’s pretty late, but I was surrounded good people and good coaches who gave me confidence and reassurance that I’m a good player that I can go anywhere I want.
“I just love the game and have passion for it, and you can see it when I play. I play really hard, and I play with a lot of effort and energy. I love putting in the early mornings and late nights. The work, the failure, the success, it all comes to one.”
When Dubsky visited back in the spring, he spent some time on the court with a handful of Mustangs who are returning. He also played in meaningful games with PSA’s summer team in a NEPSAC event earlier in the summer. So he’s got some familiarity heading into things. But even if he didn’t, the readily apparent maturity he displays would have him on good footing.
“The basketball piece of coming to Putnam is nice, of course,” he said, “but it’s going to prepare me for college, both as a player and as a student. It takes maturity, and to become mature, you’ve got to take a lot of losses. It’s a mindset. I look at mindset for everything…basketball, life, education.
“There’s a lot more to life than basketball if I’m being honest. The ball will stop bouncing. So if basketball doesn’t go your way, it’s important to have genuine relationships that you’ve built along the way. This is going to be a great experience.”
By Stephen Nalbandian
Sports Information Director
Putnam Science Academy
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