Recruiting Report: Cade McKnight (2017)
Last time we talked with Grinnell’s 6-foot-8 power forward Cade McKnight his basketball recruitment was just starting to take shape. And though his hoops interest has continued to form, there’s been a new development that could have a significant impact…
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Continue ReadingLast time we talked with Grinnell’s 6-foot-8 power forward Cade McKnight his basketball recruitment was just starting to take shape.
And though his hoops interest has continued to form, there’s been a new development that could have a significant impact on his future — football recruitment.
“It’s been pretty recent, my coach said that football recruiters focus on the senior class and now that I’m soon to be a senior I’ve started hearing from schools,” said McKnight.
The dual-sport star plays quarterback for the Tigers, but says some area Division I schools have been inquiring about moving him to defensive end, or tight end.
“For football I have interest from Iowa, Iowa State and UNI. I’m not sure exactly what I want to do yet, but I have both those options, football and basketball, depending on what opportunities come my way.”
Still with nearly his entire 17U season ahead of him (he played in the NY2LA Swish ‘N Dish last weekend), McKnight is hoping that his hoops interest can be turned into offers.
“UNI has tapered off, but North Dakota and South Dakota are recruiting me, and I actually had the Army coach come and visit with me at home. And then South Dakota State, Kent State, and for D2 Winona State and recently Cal State, Los Angeles wanted some game film,” said McKnight, who mentioned which schools are hitting him the hardest right now.
“I would say North Dakota, Army, and Winona State — those are probably the top three right now.”
College basketball coaches should take note, it’s basketball that McKnight would truly like to pursue at the next level — but it’s dependent on the opportunities he’s granted.
“I honestly as of right now prefer basketball, but I’m going to take into consideration both options and routes, and just the best fit for me that’s what I’m going to do,” said McKnight,
The versatile 2017 averaged 18 points on 63 percent shooting and 7.1 rebounds per game last season as junior. He explained to PHI what he’s been working to improve over the past year.
“I’ve really been trying to develop my outside game, I’ve been really working hard on my mid-range game and also behind the 3-point line,” said McKnight. “These days you can’t just be a big guy that plays around the rim, you have to have other skills to catch people’s attention.”
As he heads into the meat of his 17U season — with April live periods starting next weekend — McKnight is hoping for the best.
“My recruitment is definitely a priority, that’s what you’re playing for, that’s what you put all the time in for,” he said. “I’ve been playing AAU now for 10 years. But you just have to control what you can control, and hopefully things work out.”