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Elliot Cadeau, a former North Carolina guard, has landed in a favorable situation at the University of Michigan. The one-time New Jersey high school standout spent his first two collegiate seasons with the Tar Heels.
Cadeau entered North Carolina as a five-star recruit, with expectations that he would become one of the nation's elite players. While he wasn't poor—averaging 9.4 points in his second year—he struggled with turnovers and was a below-average 3-point shooter, never fully meeting the lofty hype.
Now, with a loaded Michigan program that captured a national title a year ago, Cadeau has demonstrated the potential that many had hoped to see in Chapel Hill. He appeared in all 40 games and started each one, posting averages of 10.5 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 5.9 assists.
His shooting took a significant leap: he connected on 37.6% of his 3-point attempts on nearly double the volume from the previous year (4.3 per game), and he shot 41.1% from the field. He fit seamlessly into Michigan's system.
As a senior, there is reason to believe his impact will be even greater for a Wolverines team aiming for back-to-back championships. That promise led The Athletic to rank him as the No. 13 best player in college basketball entering the season.
The Final Four Most Outstanding Player put up similar numbers in his first year at Michigan to his final year at North Carolina, but he was more efficient and played with greater confidence. With the Tar Heels, defenders could sag off him at the 3-point line; that is no longer the case after he made 65 triples at a 37.6% clip.
Cadeau is one of the best setup men in the sport and can deliver in big moments, CJ Moore wrote.
Labeling Cadeau is difficult because he undeniably benefits from Michigan's talented roster. However, North Carolina also had abundant talent during his time there, so his struggles with the Tar Heels cannot be solely attributed to surrounding personnel.
As for how he'll look this season, there is reason to push back on him being the No. 13-ranked player in college basketball. Michigan is ultra-talented, and a scenario in which it wins another national title with Cadeau as a key contributor is plausible. If that happens, arguing he isn't one of the top 15 players in the country would be tough.
Key Analysis
Cadeau's ranking reflects his improved efficiency and fit at Michigan, but skepticism remains about whether he truly belongs among the nation's elite. His ability to sustain his shooting improvements and lead the Wolverines to another deep tournament run will ultimately determine the validity of his top-15 status.
Originally reported by yahoo.