Photo Courtesy: Elliot Cadeau/Bergen Catholic

By: Jerry Del Priore 

Elliot Cadeau’s basketball schedule is jam-packed with games, travel, and hours of basketball-related training, year round, not to mention living the busy lifestyle of a regular adolescent. 

But it is the West Orange native’s unyielding dedication to the sport that he has been playing since the second grade that has grabbed ESPN’s seventh spot in the Top 25 in the nation in the 2024 class at the moment.

However, Cadeau is not complaining about the demanding workload at all. He said he knows it will pay off in the future. 

“My schedule is crazy, but I like it,” the Bergen Catholic High School student-athlete said. “I hit the weight room almost every day. I have put on 15 pounds of muscle in the last year. My goal is to be the best basketball player I can be. I want to play pro someday.” 

Moreover, the hard work is paying dividends. The 6-foot-2, 160-pound point guard currently owns offers from Division I college basketball programs such as Providence, UMass, Seton Hall, TCU, and Siena. And, according to national high school basketball insiders, the list is surely to grow in the future. 

Last season as a freshman, Cadeau posted solid numbers, scoring 102 points, grabbing 41 rebounds, dishing out 38 assists, and making 16 steals in nine games for the Crusaders. 

This summer, Cadeau has traveled all over to improve and showcase his hardwood talents in order to play at the next level in the future. He played at The Nike Elite Youth Basketball Leagues (EYBL) renowned Peach Jam tournament in North Augusta, Ga., in late July, and with Sweden’s National team during the first week of August. 

Cadeau, who holds a Swedish-American dual citizenship because his mom is Swedish, enjoys balling in front of Swedish hoops fans. 

“I have played in a lot of different (American) states, and a lot of different countries,” Cadeau, who also speaks Swedish, said. But “I like playing in Sweden a lot. The crowds are crazy. They like seeing Americans playing basketball. It is always a good time for me.” 

A pass-first point guard, Cadeau said he doesn’t mind seeing his teammates put up points. As long as he can contribute in some way, and his team wins, that is all that matters to the affable young man. 

“I’d rather see someone from my bench score than see me score a basket, ” the 16-year-old said. “I’ve been like that since I’m a kid. I always thought pass, pass, pass. As long as we win, I’m good.” 

And Bergen Catholic did enjoy a productive year, registering a 7-2 mark in a truncated season due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Coming out of middle school, several high schools vied for Cadeau’s buggering court services. But he chose Bergen Catholic, and it has been a decision which has made him extremely happy. 

“I love the coach (Billy Armstrong),” Cadeau explained. “He’s probably the smartest coach I’ve been around. And my teammates are great. They push me to be better.” 

In addition to high school basketball, Cadeau said his AAU New Heights Lighting squad has helped him reach a new level of grittiness. 

“The coaches are really good,” he said. “The players are really tough, so it helps me with my toughness.” 

Sure, the more experienced and skilled Cadeau gets, the more potential national spotlight will shine on him. But he said he is prepared for it, and he does not feel any pressure at the moment. 

“I’m not taking the ranking too seriously right now. Things change. Sure, it feels good to me, but I don’t feel any pressure. I just want to play my best.”