Women's Basketball Taps Connors' Pipeline to Add to '22-23 Recruiting Class

Charlee Connors
5’10”
Wing/Post
Fredericton, NB
Psychology

The third addition to the St. Thomas University Tommies women’s basketball team is Charlee Connors, a 5’10” wing/post player from the Fredericton High School Black Kats.

Connors is currently in her grade 12 season with the Black Kats and has helped her teams to back-to-back AAA Junior Varsity NBIAA provincial championships before the pandemic.

Charlee is Tommies’ head coach Fred’s youngest daughter and will join her older sisters Nikki (trainer) and Emma (player) on the Tommies.

“Personally, I am very excited to add another one of my daughters to our team,” exulted Fred. “She was deciding on a couple of different options, so I wasn't sure if I was going to get to coach her again or not. Now, I am going to have all three of my girls in the program. Going into my 20th season next year, I would never have thought this was going to happen. It's super exciting.”

Having her sisters in the program was a contributing factor for Charlee ultimately choosing St. Thomas.

“Ever since I was super little, I’ve hoped to be able to play at STU with my dad,” said Charlee. “After Emma committed, I was even more hopeful I’d have a chance and now that Nikki is a part of the team as a trainer it was really a no brainer for me to hope to get the chance to play.”

Having grown up around the program, Charlee has seen this team play on several occasions, so it shouldn’t take long for her to gel with the players.

“All the other girls on the team have always been so amazing to me,” said Charlee. “The program has always been so competitive, and my dad has specifically helped me train to be able to keep up the pace and get my skills where they need to be. I definitely think this program is a perfect fit for me.”

Charlee hopes to pursue an education in psychology, with hopes of one day becoming a child psychologist.

“I decided to attend STU because they have a really good psychology program. I want to become a child psychologist and after talking to Cristi Flood in admissions, I was so excited about all the different options and opportunities available.”

Fred attributes Charlee’s work ethic to being one of the driving factors to his recruitment of her.

“She has really developed over the last two years and has turned in to a very solid all-around player. She can play in the post but has three-point range to stretch the floor. She isn't scared to step in and take charges and prides herself in rebounding. Adding someone that works as hard as she does and plays so unselfishly is always great for any program. She loves to get into the gym and put in extra work.”