Throughout the 2024-25 season, Babcock Hoops will provide comprehensive scouting reports on top 2025 NBA Draft prospects, analyzing their strengths, questions, and potential at the next level. Our reports offer an in-depth look at each player's development and draft outlook.
Elliot Cadeau
Position: Guard
School: North Carolina
Class: Sophomore
Height/Weight: 6'1", 180 lbs
Birthdate: September 4, 2004
High School: Link Academy (MO)
Player Overview
Elliot Cadeau is a dynamic floor general with elite passing vision and a knack for creating opportunities for his teammates in both half-court sets and transition. As a quick-twitch athlete, Cadeau excels as a pick-and-roll initiator, where his ability to manipulate defenders and deliver pinpoint passes stands out. His change-of-speed and directional shifts make him a constant threat to keep defenders off balance. However, Cadeau's scoring ability is a work in progress, with an inconsistent jumper and limited vertical explosiveness hindering his offensive ceiling.
Defensively, his undersized frame and average wingspan pose challenges, particularly against stronger or taller opponents. Despite these limitations, his feel for the game and ability to control the tempo make him a unique prospect with significant potential at the next level.
"Cadeau’s lack of size and inconsistent shooting hold him back, but his dynamic playmaking keeps him on the radar." — Matt Babcock, NBA Draft Analyst
Strengths
Pick-and-Roll Initiation: Masterful at creating opportunities for teammates, using elite vision and precision passing to find rollers and open shooters.
Transition Playmaking: Pushes the tempo effectively, consistently hitting teammates in stride for easy buckets.
Quick-Twitch Athleticism: Excellent change-of-direction and start-stop speed keep defenders off balance.
Drawing Fouls: Shows an advanced ability to draw contact and get to the free-throw line.
Basketball IQ: Processes defensive shifts at a high level, particularly in playmaking scenarios.
Concerns
Inconsistent Jumper: Struggles with scoring reliability, especially from the perimeter.
Undersized: Lacks height and wingspan, making defensive matchups more challenging.
Over-Dribbling: Over-dribbling can stagnate offensive flow, leading to turnovers under pressure.
Limited Defender: Physical tools restrict his defensive upside, especially against stronger or taller guards.
Questions
Can Cadeau develop a consistent jumper to become more of a scoring threat?
Will his physical limitations impact his ability to compete defensively in the NBA?
Does he have enough creativity off the dribble to create space against NBA defenders?
Bottom Line
Elliot Cadeau is an impressive playmaker with a high basketball IQ and an elite ability to generate offense for his teammates. His pick-and-roll initiator and transition playmaker abilities are among the best in the country. While his scoring and defensive limitations raise concerns about his overall ceiling, Cadeau's feel for the game and advanced court vision make him a prospect worth monitoring. With development, particularly in shooting and defensive positioning, Cadeau can potentially be a valuable contributor at the next level.