Prospect Spotlight: David Cheatom 2020

<p>The University Wildcats have gotten off to a 9-3 start this season and won the Van Nuys Thanksgiving Classic last month. A big part of the reason why is the play of David Cheatom.</p> <p>A senior wing, Cheatom has become the team leader and focal point of the Wildcats offense. He's a talented scorer who can light it up from anywhere on the court, and his play has drawn awareness from both Division 1 and Division 2 schools.</p> <p>He has offers in place from a few Division 2 schools, and he's heard from UC Santa Barbara and Rice. A few other UC's have come calling and it seems as if his recruitment is starting to gain some momentum. When that time comes for him to choose where to play at the next level, he's got in mind what he'll be looking for.</p> <p>"I don't expect to be a star wherever I go," Cheatom told Prep Hoops. "I want to go to a school that's really going to invest in me for the future and really develop me to play at the next level."</p> <p>Cheatom has developed into a lethal scorer who is a nightmare to guard for opposing wings. He's crafty with an array of offensive moves to keep the defense guessing. He can put the ball on the floor and attack the rim. He can shoot from three-point range. He's got good footwork in the mid-post area.</p> <p>He's a strong player too, able to draw contact at the rim and get himself to the free-throw line. Like all players though, Cheatom has areas of his game that he'd like to improve upon. A player's development is never done, and he's identified some areas that he feels he can get stronger in.</p> <p>"I've been trying to work on being a better leader, trying to communicate better with my team," Cheatom said. "Also being a lockdown defender and picking up full-court, and my three-ball."</p> <p>This past summer, Cheatom suited up for YouBall on the AAU circuit playing for head coach Chans Smyth. AAU is usually a time for players to work on parts of their game in anticipation of the high school regular season starting.</p> <p>For Cheatom, this AAU season was something he wasn't used to. He was on a team that featured a lot of talented guards, so he had to expand his game and play out of position at times. While initially unsure, he believes it helped him in the long run.</p> <p>"I think this year AAU was kind of different for me because we were kind of guard-heavy. I had to work a little bit more on my post and my mid-range game," Cheatom said. "I think that's what I took away from it. I learned from playing those positions, I was able to capitalize on what I was able to work on."</p> <p>Cheatom has been burning up the nets for a while now and has established himself as one of the top-scoring guards in the entire Los Angeles/Southern Calfornia region. Yet still, he remains out of the limelight and a bit overlooked in the grand scheme of things.</p> <p>He's aware of it though, and while he does see himself as being under the radar, he humbly believes that it's up to him to make people aware of who he is.</p> <p>"I do feel like I'm underrated, but I feel like I have to do a better job of giving coaches a reason to look at me," Cheatom said. "I feel like I have to keep working harder to get the attention that I want."</p> <p>And being in his final year of high school basketball, there is one major goal that Cheatom is hoping to accomplish this season. One final obstacle that he wants to get done before he leaves to play at the next level.</p> <p>"Last three years we've been to the CIF finals, so this last year I just want to finish it off. We've made to the actual championship," Cheatom said. "I'm not too focused on my stats or anything like that, I just want to get a ring."</p>