Modest beginnings
T.J. McConnell is a native Pennsylvanian, having been born in the western part of the state. Timothy John McConnell was born in Pittsburg, PA. Basketball is in his blood, as his father Tim McConnell is a rather lauded high school basketball coach. McConnell played for his father at Chartiers Valley High School
The opposite of Joel Embiid in terms of heritage on a basketball court, McConnell fell into a basketball family and embraced the role. His basketball personna in high school was simply that of a young man who had basketball in his blood. But little did he know that he was paralleling the path of Joel Embiid to the NBA. From different backgrounds, he was a lesser Embiid… a “Mini Me”
As a senior, he led his school with a 34.2 points, 8.2 assists, and 9.1 rebounds per game. That was good enough to lead his high school team to a 29-2 record and an appearance in the state 3A championship game. But his role would change in Arizona.