Palmer graduate nets career best in return to home state

PALMER — Former Palmer High School basketball standout Connor Looney may not have relished the temperature swing, but did enjoy a career night during a recent return to his home state.

Looney, a Hawaii Pacific University junior, played a pair of games in Fairbanks earlier this month.

“It was an experience coming from Hawaii weather and going to Fairbanks,” Looney said by cellphone recently. “But it was good to get back and see family and friends.”

Looney, a 6-foot-2 guard, netted a career-high 12 points during a loss to host UAF Nov. 13. He hit 4 of 8 shots, including a pair of threes. Looney also collected a pair of rebounds and three steals during 21 minutes on the court.

“That was good in front of family and friends,” Looney said of the career best. “The ball was going in. It was good to have a good performance back home.”

Now an upperclassman, Looney is seeing the most playing time of his career. Through the first three games of the season, Looney is averaging 21 minutes per game. Looney’s averaging 7.3 points per game, and hitting nearly 44 percent of his shots. The former Moose standout has already traversed the transition to the next level, and continues to grow in the college game.

“The first year is the toughest, the adjustment to the speed. Now it’s just routine,” Looney said. “It doesn’t feel like forcing. I’m glad I’m at this point.”

Looney also played ample minutes during a pair of exhibition games against Division I opponents early in the season. During a loss to Wichita State, Looney logged 24 minutes of floor time. He finished with six points and a pair of rebounds. Looney played 20 minutes during a loss to the University of Missouri-Kansas City.

Nearly three years after making his decision to choose Hawaii Pacific over fellow Division II programs Chadron State of Nebraska and Dixie State in Utah, Looney said he has absolutely no regrets about his choice.

“It’s amazing. I can’t complain,” Looney said. “I’ve got good weather, good coaches, good teammates. It’s a good situation.”

Looney has steadily progressed during his college career. As a freshman, Looney appeared in 20 games, and averaged 6.7 minutes. Three of Looney’s 11 shots were from beyond the arc. Looney’s playing time nearly doubled as a sophomore, averaging 13.6 minutes in 25 games played. Nearly half of his shots, 11 of 27 field goals made, were 3-pointers.

The 2013 Palmer High School graduate was a two-time first-team All-Northern Lights Conference selection, and first-team all-state pick as a senior. Looney averaged 23.3 points, 5.1 rebounds, 3.5 steals and 3.0 assists per game as he helped lead Palmer to an NLC title as a senior.

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiesman.com.