Coach Frank Cantadore has simply proven himself as one of the top coaches in the state… year after year, he brings a unique group of talent that continues to compete for titles and make noise. So, to expect anything different this season would be going a bit outside the box. But at the George Lynch Invitational, Concord Academy simply reminded everyone that they are here and looking at the big picture.
This is a unique team but also a team that plays together. At the event, this is a team that showed that can get it done in several ways, whether it is a defensive battle or an offensive showdown. They have experience, they size, they have talent… Concord Academy has what it takes to ultimately make a run once again.
Starting with the senior guards, 2025 Jake Benham and 2025 Gray Madeira don’t back down from anyone and they are confident not only in their ability to knock down shots but also create off the dribble, being those leaders and playmakers this team needs. They also have a rising star who is consistently getting better and better, understanding how high his ceiling is, as 2027 6’6 James Minlend has elevated his game his sophomore season. They also have players that bring production to the table and understand their roles, as 2027 Romain Boy, 2025 Lincoln Raper, and 2026 Brylee Austin all stepped up this past weekend. And that doesn’t even mention the bigs that bring a strong presence down low and create matchup problems, as 2025 Icare Bakadisula is athletic, strong, and mobile in running the court while 2025 Alek Kornacki brings great size, touch around the basket, and impacts the game both offensively and defensively.
They played extremely well this past weekend in Charlotte, and now they sit undefeated early on looking to make another statement in the coming weeks. But it is easy to see that this team won’t be disappearing anytime soon and are clear contenders once again.