Two Luray High School seniors, Connor Hilliard and Matthew Owens, have made the commitment to continue their athletic careers with James Madison University next fall to compete in Division I athletics. Hilliard will join JMU’s baseball program, while Owens will continue his basketball career playing for the Dukes.
The seniors have both established stand-out careers during their time at Luray High School, and have garnered attention from Division I and II schools such as VMI, William & Mary, Bridgewater, and Longwood for Hilliard, and the Naval Academy, Shepard University, Frostburg State University, Bridgewater, and EMU for Owens.
Hilliard, who during his junior year struck out 75 and walked 13, has been a force on the LHS team since he began playing varsity during the 22-23 school year. Standing at 6’ 2” and 195 lbs, Hilliard is an impressive presence on the mound. Because of his hard work and dedication, Connor will have the opportunity to hone his skills with the Dukes.
Owens, who was named at the Region 2B Player of the Year last season and averaged 17.2 points per game last season, helped lead his team to the Virginia High School League Class 2 state semifinals. While his position on the Dukes basketball team may begin as a redshirt while the Dukes program helps to develop his skills and add some weight to his lanky 6’ 3” 150lb frame, Owens is excited for this opportunity and is ready to do whatever it takes to secure his position.
While both boys are standout athletes, they are also exceptional students with GPA’s of above a 4.0. In addition to their superior academics and athletic abilities, they both enjoy being involved in such clubs at LHS as The Maroon Maniacs, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and the National Honor Society.
When asked how they were feeling about the opportunities ahead of them, they said they were “Ecstatic” (Hilliard) and “Beyond Blessed” (Owens). Both say it is a relief to know what is in the future, but also say they feel a responsibility to live up to the expectations.
Luray High School is excited for their futures and wishes both boys the best of luck in the remainder of their senior year.