For Findlay Prep (Las Vegas, NV) point guard and LSU commit, Skylar Mays, his commitment to LSU is another way of announcing his return home.  “Being back in Louisiana, close to home. I’ve got a lot of friends that are going to LSU next year, so I get to play for my family and friends. That’s what I’m most excited for,” Mays stated, “I have a good relationship with the head coach and that was probably the biggest factor. I’m from Louisiana  and I used to go to a school that was on LSU’s campus which helped me. It also helped, being around coach Johnny [Jones] for a very long time.”

 

Born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Skylar Mays has always wanted to be an LSU Tiger, but once he began getting recruited, he came face to face with all the possible decisions he could make. “I think I had around 20 offers in total. It can be stressful at times because you’re always getting calls from different schools and you kind of feel like you are overwhelmed with all of the schools recruiting you. I would just say to take your time with the process. Make the most of it,” he said. Mays definitely made the most of it. Unlike many high school recruits, Mays waited until his senior year of high school to make his decision, allowing him to thoroughly evaluate every school. Going to a college prep school in Findlay Prep contributed to Mays’ ability to navigate through the recruiting process. They have also been a major factor in Mays’ success throughout high school in general, saying, “Playing at Findlay Prep has been a great experience because I’m always getting better. I’m playing against high Division 1 players, so it’s a great learning experience for me. Being away from home, I’m not really used to it, but at the end of the day, it’s a great experience.”

 

As of February 5, 2016, Mays has led Findlay Prep to a 21-1 record, making them a serious threat to compete for a national title. “The main goal is to win a national championship and that’s the only goal I’m focused on because winning comes first,” Mays explained. “We’re winning and we’re happy about that, but we’re not being complacent. We need to take the game seriously, go out there and play our game.”

Being one of only two seniors on the team, Mays has worked hard to become a leader for the young Findlay Prep team. Mays’ teammate, Markus Howard, who is considered by many to be one of the best players in the Class of 2017, has noticed Mays’ hard work and clearly realizes the impact he has had on the team, saying, “Skylar is a great guy who comes from a great family. On the court, he makes you a better player. I know that going at it with him, every day in practice has made me better and playing in the backcourt with him has been an amazing experience. He's the best point guard I've had the opportunity to play with.”

 

While Mays’ receives high praise from his teammates about his performance on the court, off the court, Mays does a great job of preparing for life after basketball: “Hopefully, I can play as long as I can, but I’m planning on going into the medical field, like my parents,  if I don’t make it to the NBA. I most likely want to major in Pre-med.” said the high school senior.

Mays understands the challenges that come with being a student athlete and always makes sure to put his education before sports: “Books come first. I just try to get my work done early so that I can get in the gym late at night. I can find time to get in the gym as long as I’m getting my schoolwork done and I’m pretty good about that.” the LSU commit said.

 

Although his time at Findlay Prep may be coming to an end, Skylar Mays is just getting started as he nears his Freshman year at LSU. It will be interesting to see how he manages the expectations and challenges that he will have to face in the SEC. Skylar Mays is definitely a player to look out for in the Class of 2016. As he said for himself, “I’m motivated by just seeing what I’ve done and where basketball can take me down the road.”