Swampscott’s boys basketball team clinched a state tournament spot (Division 3) with its win against Lynn Classical Tuesday evening. Leading that charge was standout sophomore Connor Chiarello, who scored a game- and career-high 33 points alongside seven assists.
But don’t let the word ‘sophomore’ fool you. Despite his age, Chiarello plays like a veteran.
Just look at the 63 points he’s scored across his previous two games, catapulting the Big Blue to a 10-6 record.
When asked what’s been the key lately, the point guard said he’s “been getting my shot going early.”
“My first shot in [each of] the last two games has fallen for me. Once I see it go in, it gets me into a rhythm,” Chiarello said. “Once I’m in the rhythm, I’m in the zone and locked in.”
He plays with confidence, too, and believes in his scoring ability at all times.
“I’m confident,” he said. “I know I’m capable of making these shots that I’ve been working on my whole life,”
Chiarello’s sweet spot? The midrange – an area he admitted took time to develop.
“The first couple months of the season, my midrange really wasn’t falling. That’s my go-to shot,” he said. “But against Classical, I probably had 15 points just from midrange.”
Whether it’s through a set play or in isolation, Chiarello thrives in coach Jason Knowles’ system.
“Coach J gives us freedom and lets us play our game. He knows what we’re capable of and he knows us very well,” Chiarello said. “I’ve known coach J for… 10 years now. I’ve been with him for a while and he knows what he’ll get from me.”
Knowles returned the favor, praising Chiarello’s much-needed intensity.
“For the past two years, Connor has been a true leader on and off the court. He never gets down on his teammates and his desire to win motivates everyone around him,” Knowles said. “His relentless drive and skill are a testament to his dedication and potential as a rising star in the area.”
Only a sophomore, Chiarello has been a starter since his freshman year. At tryouts that same year, he said his goal was originally just to make varsity.
But then, he wanted more.
“Ultimately, I wanted to start every game and be a main contributor,” he said. “Not just by scoring, but by doing a bit of everything. I wanted to get assists, play great defense, and help rebound.”
When asked about the jump from middle school to high school varsity, Chiarello talked about the speed and physicality of the game.
“It’s definitely a big jump. The kids are a lot bigger, stronger, and quicker,” he said. “I’ve been playing up my whole life basically, so I’m pretty used to it.”
And at the end of the day, winning is all that matters for the righty.
“My goals and mindset are pretty similar. The main focus is to win and get teammates involved early,” Chiarello said. “Everything starts on the defensive end, though. When we come out strong on defense, that leads us to most of our offense with steals and fastbreaks. The main goal is to win and do it the right way.”
