"The Punisher-Cade Capps: Up Close and Still Grinding"

Cade Capps 

@raf_cade

6'5, c/o 25

Stone Memorial High School, TN

Trevecca Nazarene  Commit

Cade's story begins when he picks up a ball at age 6. It was love at first sight. He knew then basketball would be his thing. Being a coach's son he was around basketball daily, was hungry to learn, and was always full of questions. Curiously Cade never felt pressure at home cause he wanted to get better and understood early how much he needed to work to be the best with his dad being a coach. Cade started the grind young so it was natural as he grew to put in the work and quality time with his dad doing it. Over the years Cade poured himself into this game he loved so much and it began to show eerily. Cade developed a high basketball IQ naturally as his skills continued to develop. Cade spent lots of time thinking about becoming a better player and was like a sponge trying to learn all the new things he could. Cade poured his heart and soul into perfecting his ability to score. Cade spent countless hours making sure that their ability to score would be so versatile no one would be able to stop him. From the three to all sorts of crafty moves and mastered angels making himself a matchup nightmare. Adding his athletic abilities made it even tougher. It's that ruthless spin move he loves the most. This stud can do that move from almost anywhere with an explosive burst you simply can't adjust to trying to figure out when and how he will get his shot off. 

Over the years Cade heard a lot of noise and doubters along the way but he only used all the noise as extra motivation to become even better and work harder to gain recognition. Cade just kept his head down on the grind and decided early on he would let his game do all the talking. Playing for his dad in high school took it to a whole new level of doubt and criticism for him and his dad. Cade knew people would say things but in his heart, he knew the truth and maintained his confidence in his skills and abilities without ever letting the noise bother him. It paid off big time - Cade made a statement and sent a strong message that freshman year he helped lead his team to the state tournament where they fell in the quarters to eventual champion Greenville 59-55. Though doubters remained Cade's stock continued to rise and he just kept on grinding improving his skills, knowing the best was yet to come, and managed to pick up his first offer from TN Tech followed by  Radford University in 2022. His ranking was around #3 in the state in his class at that time and even was named an outstanding Sophomore year where he averaged 19.5 pts, 6.1 reb, and 2.2 ast earning Player of the Year and joining the 1000-point club. While leading his team to a 25-7 record.  But Cade was far from done going on to be one of the most dominant scorers in the Rocky Top Fall league and maintained that through this year. He also earned the UCR 7AAA Mr. Basketball in Jan. '23. Later that year Cade joined the Stars Basketball Club and took the UA Rise Circuit by storm. Even on this loaded team, Cade continued to stand out among them as they battled their way to the UA Rise Finals and brought home that Chip and advanced to the Ultimate Club Championship in Vegas finishing 4-1 against 3SSB teams where Cade averaged 22 pts and 10rebs. In his Junior Season, Cade's stock was sky-high as he was ranked the #1 Junior in the state.  It was in the Rocky Top Fall League that I first officially met Cade and was thoroughly impressed by his dominant play. Throughout that league, he just kept putting on a clinic. I watched him battle against some of the best talent in the state and he held his own and thrived even on the big stages. Then it hit me what I should call him cause he just was so strong game after game, week after week. The only name that fit was "The Punisher" and he has lived up to that name since that time. As the season wore on Cade was among those being considered for Mr. Basketball and went on to earn District 7AAA Player of the Year, District 7AAA  Regular Season MVP,  the AAA All-State Team, and a 3-star rating. Cade was voted a Mr. Basketball Finalist. He suffered a tough loss in a heavyweight battle against Upperman and Ty Cobb and company in the Regionals. Cade came up a little short of winning the Mr. Basketball but he is just thankful to make the finals. During his junior season, Cade also joined that exclusive 2000-point club. 

Despite all his dominance the offers were not coming and none of us could figure out why. I asked Cade how he felt about it and he responded like Cade had every time he was doubted, he pushed himself harder working relentlessly to show more of what was in him so he could gain more offers and interests. More than that his love for the game and the desire to be the best he never stopped working day and night. And it was evident in the race to the UA Rise Finals in Chicago averaging 19.3 pts, 5.6 reb, and 2 steals per game during a 6-0 run. Cade feels anytime someone throws shade at his game it makes him more locked in and wants to play better.  In Atlanta and even more so in Chicago, Cade played like a man possessed. The mission was clear and he led the Stars 17u Basketball Club to that National Chip in Chicago. I had never been so proud as he and this team who battled through much injury and adversity came together and beat the odds.

Cade picked up another offer from Harding University and Trevecca,  Cade chose Trevecca. I asked him what was the deciding factor in his decision and he said, the coaching staff and the university itself, it just felt like family and he knew he was home. Now that Cade has committed he still has a couple of goals he feels he has yet to achieve but believes he can. That Mr. Basketball Award. A run to the state tournament. Cade knows it will take a lot of work but he believes he can reach both goals and that would be an amazing accomplishment before he leaves the high school stage. For any doubters left he just hopes his team can overachieve and get back to state. I see that Cade is likely to go beyond 2500 points for his career and who knows how far beyond, but it's going to be fun to watch.

Just for fun Tyler Herro is our mutual favorite NBA player and I asked Cade who is the toughest player you have ever battled all these years? With a quick response, he said, my friend Cade Murphy, also a mutual friend. Cade said he loves competing against him, he is a good player. Anyone who knows Cade Murphy, whom I call " The MailMan", that stud always brings his A game and grinds hard no matter where he is or who he is playing is another one of the best players in this state hands down. I say to get to that state tournament he has to go through another one of the state's best in a rising young phenom in Ty Cobb. I hate these two have battles to get there yet I also enjoy watching them go head to head. If there is a scenario where they can both get to state that would be a match-up to see in that venue for sure. Buckle up y'all this senior year for my boy " The Punisher ", I promise it will be a must-see TV. Get your popcorn ready. One last run with direct missions in sight, the guns will be blazing at the end of the day. Stay tuned!