Now that we’ve reached the point in the high school season when things begin to shift. Despite all the preseason competition, holiday showcases, and subplots throughout, this time is arguably as exciting as any period in the year. Each game has playoff implications. All kinks should be figured out, and teams should be hitting their stride. However, this is also the stretch when young prospects really begin to emerge and separate themselves from their peers. Although he had plenty of buzz entering his freshman year, it’s fair to say that Kaedyn Cole has potentially exceeded expectations this season. Let’s take a closer look…
It’s somewhat rare to see a freshman enter high school and immediately become the most productive player on the team, but that’s exactly the case with Cole. This season, he’s averaging 15.5 PPG, 7.3 RPG, 1.0 SPG, and 1.1 BPG while shooting an impressive 59% from the floor. Cole leads the team in points, rebounds, and blocks while also ranking fifth in assists and steals. Furthermore, the Crusaders are winning at a quality rate (16-7) behind their core of three juniors, one senior, and one freshman. This should be an obvious positive for the program’s future success.
It’s worth noting that Cole played considerable minutes as an eighth-grader, yet has increased his numbers across the board while basically doubling his scoring production this season. In terms of his actual on-court identity, Cole is a powerful athlete with excellent length, strength, and instincts on both ends of the floor. He’s a terrific finisher who can play through contact or above the rim. Cole is a capable threat off the bounce, particularly for his size, and does very well as a straight-line attacker. He can knock down midrange jumpers and has shown flashes of being able to space the floor from beyond the arc, but looks to put pressure on the rim whenever possible. Cole displays solid touch and footwork, especially at this stage in his development. He’s a quality rebounder who carves out space, plays hard, and overwhelms opponents with his physicality. Cole is also a useful defender who can block shots and switch across multiple positions when necessary. In addition to checking a lot of on-paper boxes, Cole has the type of mentality and competitiveness that every coach should want in a young star player.