Syracuse Basketball: 5-star PG target’s skill-set, hoops IQ off the charts

Syracuse basketball recently entered the recruiting mix for a 2024 five-star prospect who is deemed one of the top high-school players across the country in his class.

After the Orange offered a scholarship to elite point guard Elliot Cadeau from New Jersey, I perused the Internet for highlights of the 6-foot-1 prospect, as well as comments from national analysts on his game.

What I discovered is that this young man can flat-out ball. Cadeau, by the way, is a sophomore at Bergen Catholic High School in Oradell, N.J.

He is rated in the top-10 overall within the 2024 cycle, according to numerous recruiting services. Cadeau is also the No. 1 point guard in his class, according to ESPN.

Syracuse basketball faces steep competition for five-star Elliot Cadeau.

Cadeau, at least from what I can tell, seems to be a pass-first point guard who makes a habit of getting his teammates involved and helping them to succeed.

That being said, Cadeau is a versatile three-level scorer who can put the ball in the basket from the perimeter, in the mid-range, and in driving to the hoop.

While Cadeau has no issues creating shots for himself, some analysts and scouts praise him for his court vision, basketball IQ, passing prowess and assertiveness.

In a recent tweet, MADE Hoops scouting analyst Max Feldman said that Cadeau’s “feel & basketball intellect are advanced beyond his years.”

Feldman and other experts note that Cadeau is an excellent ball-handler, makes good decisions, changes pace well, and is a terrific defender, which caught my attention.

"Rob Cassidy, the basketball recruiting director for Rivals.com, said in part about Cadeau, “The 6-foot-1 point guard’s footwork matches his effort on the defensive end.”"

Besides his defensive instincts and all-around game, what also intrigues me about Cadeau is that analysts say he is a clutch performer and exhibits strong leadership qualities.

I’m really high on Cadeau and hope that the Orange evolves into a serious contender for him. It won’t prove easy, though, as he already has about a dozen offers, from teams such as Seton Hall, Providence, St. John’s, Texas Tech, Tennessee, Oklahoma State, TCU, UMass, Howard and Siena.