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What's Your Path: Connor Clayton

January 28, 2026
Jared Cornick
Prep Baseball California Contributor

  

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The Senior Future Games took place on July 22-23 at LakePoint in Emerson, Georgia. Top uncommitted prospects in the class of 2026 participated in one of the most popular events each year.

We caught up with some of the state's standout performers who competed on Team WestCoast to hear about their highlights on the weekend, overall experience at LakePoint, and what their recruitment process has looked like since attending the event.

Connor Clayton, 2026, SS/RHP, West Ranch High School

In his junior season for West Ranch, Clayton hit .321 while driving in 17 runs. Additionally, Clayton flashed the glove, posting a .938 fielding percentage on 48 total chances. On the mound, Clayton displays a strong three-pitch mix, highlighted by an 88 MPH fastball.

Prep Baseball CA: What was it like seeing all of the college coaches and scouts at LakePoint for the first time?
Clayton: "At first, I didn’t really know what to expect because I had never been to an event like that before. When I got there and saw the facilities and the atmosphere, it was just different. Everything about it felt big-time. The number of coaches there was unbelievable, especially for the Future Games and Senior Future Games. It felt like you were walking through a sea of people, except it was all coaches. It was honestly an awesome experience."
Prep Baseball CA: How would you assess your performance, and what was the competition like?
Clayton: "I think I did fairly well overall. My at-bats were high quality, and the level of competition was unlike anything I had experienced before. The pitchers were coming from all over the country, and everyone was talented, so it forced me to elevate my game. I thought I shined on the mound toward the end of the event. Those innings felt like a great way to cap off a strong tournament for Team West Coast."
Prep Baseball CA: What were your thoughts on being part of Team West Coast and playing alongside that group?
Clayton: "What stood out most was how good the coaches were and how close our team became. They were super helpful and always gave us tips. It felt like a family — a real brotherhood. We all got along really well, and it’s been awesome seeing how many guys from the team have committed since the event. A lot of us still follow each other on social media, and it’s cool to see everyone having success. It was also great seeing guys who don’t always get a ton of recognition finally get their chance to show what they can do and earn opportunities to play college baseball."
Prep Baseball CA: What advice would you give to players attending the Senior Future Games at LakePoint next summer?

Clayton: "The biggest thing is to take a deep breath. It’s easy to feel pressure when you see how many coaches there are and start telling yourself you have to be perfect. If you just relax and let your game play, everything will work out. Also, have fun. When I finally relaxed, it was when I got on the mound at the end and realized, “This is my moment.” If you’re not having fun, there’s really no point in being out there."

Prep Baseball CA: How did your recruiting process change after attending the Senior Future Games?

Clayton: "Going into the event, I was talking to a couple of schools, but once Future Games started, I began getting texts from schools all over the country. It really showed how many coaches were watching. Being selected to play at the Senior Future Games adds credibility. It shows you’re a versatile player, and it puts pressure on schools to move quicker. Everyone is trying to recruit you, but at the end of the day, it comes down to finding the school that feels right for you."

On July 25th, Clayton took to social media to announce his committment to Cal State Northridge.

Prep Baseball CA: What advice would you give players about navigating the recruiting process?

Clayton: "Put your name out there as early as possible and go to events. If I could do it again, I’d probably go to even more events. The more events I went to, the more recognition I got. Social media also helps because coaches want to know who you are. My recruiting really started to pick up after the Preseason All-State event in January. That’s when I finally got to show what I had been working on, and things took off from there."

Coming off a breakout weekend at LakePoint, Clayton, the No. 33 ranked shortstop in the class of 2026, is poised for a big senior season at West Ranch before continuing his career at Cal State Northridge.

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