Player Breakdown: Caden McLean

<p>[player_tooltip player_id="919684" first="Caden" last="McLean"] is a guard from the class of 2021. Last season, McLean led the Post Falls Trojans to an impressive run at the state tournament and will look to do so again in the upcoming 2020-21 season. Post Falls will have tough competition in the north, but Caden is an excellent player with lots of experience which will prove beneficial as he attempts to enhance his leadership abilities. Continue reading for a breakdown of Caden’s skills and abilities on both ends of the court.</p> <p><strong>Defense:</strong> McLean gets the job on defense no matter who he guards. Against other guards, McLean does a great job of keeping them in front and grabbing steals when opposing teams fail to see him shooting gaps away from the ball. Against bigs, Caden likes to front when a switch occurs and battles his way around to avoid giving up easy buckets. He is a smart defender and makes up for some size and strength by mentally attacking the offense and assuming what play will happen next. For his position, he rebounds well and is known to enter the paint after a shot has gone up to control loose boards and push the ball to the other end. </p> <p><strong>Offense:</strong> Caden is an excellent 2/3 guard for the Trojans and has a great skillset. His most impressive ability is his shot-making as he has a deadly 3-point jumper with extended range. He can catch and shoot from anywhere within the lines and likes to shoot off the dribble in rhythm as well. When he cannot find an open shot, he easily drives by defenders and either stops and pops for a mid-range, or drives to the basket and finishes with both hands around the rim. If he cannot do either of those, McLean has great vision and routinely finds the open man for kick-out opportunities for easy buckets. Caden plays a mix of the point guard and shooting guard position and is a good enough player to transition seamlessly between the two. When he feels the offense needs more movement, he can pass with the best of them, and when he feels he needs to turn up his scoring, he is more than capable.</p> <p><strong>Overall:</strong> McLean is an excellent player for Post Falls and will prove himself again in the upcoming season. He is a solid defender with the ability to compete with the best and guard all positions. On offense, Caden is a deadly shooter who can also play the point guard position and control the entire offense. I would expect McLean to embrace an expanded leadership role for the Trojans this season.</p>