Elliot Cadeau expecting big role in true freshman season at North Carolina

Elliot Cadeau announced Tuesday that he is re-classifying into the 2023 recruiting class.

Despite his youth, Cadeau is expected to have a big role for Carolina as a true freshman during the 2023-24 season. It’s possible he will start in UNC’s back court alongside guard RJ Davis next season.

Cadeau told ESPN’s Jonathan Givony

that UNC’s coaching staff is preparing him to have the ball in his hands frequently this season.

“The ball will be in my hands a lot when I’m on the floor,” Cadeau told ESPN. “I will run the team as much as I can as a freshman and think I can really help the team win a lot of games.”

Cadeau profiles as a pass-first point guard. Listed at 6-foot-1, Cadeau led the Nike EYBL circuit in assists this season with 9.3 per contest.

He also said he hopes to be a one-and-done prospect, but left the door open for h

im to spend multiple years at Carolina as he prepares for his professional career.

“My goal was always to be one and done,” he told ESPN. “Reclassing doesn’t change that. It’s definitely my end goal — to be in the draft as soon as possible — but this takes pressure off me to be one and done and gives me the option of staying two years if needed.”

Prior to re-classifying, Cadeau was the No. 9 overall player and the No. 1 point guard in the country for the class of 2024, per 247Sports Composite rankings.

He’s expected to enroll at North Carolina next week.