The offseason of North Carolina couldn’t have ended better! After having operated brilliantly on the transfer portal (recruitments of Jae’lyn Wythers and Harrison Ingram, in particular), at the end of a very disappointing 2022/23 season, Hubert Davis, the coach of the Tar Heels, is effectively recovering in Elliot Giftthe best point guard among high school students in the promotion of 2024, the last missing piece of his workforce for the 2023/24 season.
Born in 2004, the American-Swedish leader indeed belongs to the promotion of high school students of 2024 and must therefore, normally, finish his course next year. But as is done more and more often among high school “prospects” (like Jalen Duren and Emoni Bates recently, for example, with more or less success), he chooses the upgrade option, and will therefore join Chapel Hill a year early this summer, joining the “freshmen” of the (real) class of 2023 (Simeon Wilcher and Zayden High).
The best point guard in high school!
Sportingly, it’s a logical decision, because he dominated outrageously among high school students this season and established himself as the best leader in the country, and one of the most gifted “playmakers”. For example, he led Link Academy to the national title in the Geico Nationals championship, one of the most famous “High School” leagues in the country, including a final concluded with 14 assists and 3 interceptions. Before chaining high-flying outings in EYBL, the AAU championship of Nike (a last match with 29 points and 15 assists, in particular). Not to mention that he also led Sweden to the title of European U18 champion last year (division B), concluding the tournament with averages of 21.3 points, 4.3 rebounds and 4 assists per game, and the title of MVP. .
” I think I’m ready », sum it up like this, while he actually has more to prove among high school students. ” I am fit to play at the college level. There’s really no reason for me to do one more season in high school, because I can hold my own against college players. »
At the Tar Heels, Elliot Cadeau will thus be the titular leader, the conductor of one of the most legendary programs in the country at only 18 years old.
” The ball will be in my hands most of the time. I will rotate the team as best I can. And even though I’m ‘freshman’, I think I can contribute a lot to winning games “, he adds, before recalling his objective, which has “ always been to be a ‘one-and-done’. The upgrade doesn’t change anything in my view. My goal, at the end of the day, is to get to the Draft as soon as possible. he concludes. ” But by upgrading, I give myself the possibility of staying two years in college, if it is the right choice to make. »
Photo credit: Inside Carolina – Jim Hawkins
