A boy named Cadee

MELBOURNE (Paulo Kennedy’s View from Downunder) - When I started reading Paul Nilsen’s column this week I wasn’t very happy.

Sure it was well written, well researched and on a topic – knee injuries – that is most pertinent to basketball.

But, you see, as someone who plays quite a bit of sport I don’t like to read about knee injuries, hear about knee injuries, talk about knee injuries, or have anything to do with knee injuries.

It’s fair to say I get a bit squeamish at the thought of being sidelined for a long time relying on other people to get things done for me and the video store for entertainment.

Anyway, the more I thought about it the more I realised I could top Paul’s efforts and raise the ‘squeam factor’ to new leves.

So this week’s column is about a boy named Cadee
Who didn’t actually injure his knee
Instead he ran out of luck
When he ran into a truck
And nearly split himself clean into three

If the name Jason Cadee rings a bell I’m not surprised. He was the Australian Emus’ super-sub at the 2009 FIBA U19 World Championship in Auckland.

His pace, daring and ability to finish through contact despite being razor-thin caught many onlookers’ attention.

It landed him a gig as one of the World Team’s point guards at the 2010 Nike Hoops Summit, where he coolly compiled seven points and three assists in 15 minutes.

Not surprisingly he received quite a bit of attention from some elite NCAA schools, but chose to go only slightly north of his Sydney home to play professionally for the Gold Coast Blaze in the NBL.

Pretty typical story to this point – talented kid represents his country and people take notice. No big deal. Ok, so fast forward to Monday, July 12, 2010 and things change quite dramatically.

Jason is driving on a Sydney motorway when his car is ‘nudged’ with enough force to spin the car. Unfortunately, it spins directly into the path of a semi-trailer.

Cadee said his thoughts as it happened were “see ya later” as his driver’s side crumpled under the impact. He survived, against all odds, but was trapped in the wreckage for two long hours and took weeks to walk again.

“The first thing I said when the accident happened and I was sitting in the car was ‘I need to play basketball again’,” Cadee said.

Somehow, Cadee made it back onto the court in just four months, but things weren’t as they seemed.

“Last year was very hard because I couldn’t do the things I’d always been able to, my body just wouldn’t allow it,” he explained.

Teammate and Australian Boomers guard Adam Gibson has been helping him along the long road back.

“He probably came back too early when he wasn’t ready,” Gibson said.

“I’m just making sure at training he is doing the extra work, and he is doing the extra work away from there, caring for his body, making sure he is in the ice bath and just being a daddy to him!”

A long pre-season of hard work and extended minutes while Gibson was with the national team has paid dividends for Cadee, who is once again being mentioned as a future Boomer.

Five times the 20-year-old has scored in double figures this season, dishing out four or more assists on just as many occasions.

He has worked tirelessly on his three-point shooting and is connecting on 37 per cent after going 3-of-27 last season.

In his past eight games, of which the Blaze have won seven, he has an amazing 6:1 assist-to-turnover ratio despite his high-speed raids in transition and increased minutes.

In that stretch the Blaze have conceded just 68 points a game, and Cadee has shown a defensive hunger not seen before, something he credits to the tough-as-nails Gibson.

“It’s great, playing against him every day, he beats you up and you slowly learn ways to try and beat him,” Cadee said before adding with a smile that “it’s not that easy”. 

Another man crucial to Cadee’s rapid improvement has been coach Joey Wright, the former University of Texas star of “BMW Scoring Machine” fame.

“With Jason’s speed he gets up and pressures the ball up the court. That’s not something he was known for but he is doing a really good job,” Wright said.

Like everyone else though, Wright is most excited about what Cadee can do when he has the ball.

“When Jason wants to go I don’t think anyone can stay in front of him. He is speed, speed, speed. When he decides to go he goes!” he said enthusiastically.

Some thought Cadee’s lack of physical strength would stop him progressing to senior international ranks, others his inconsistent jumpshot, while his lack of defensive prowess was also pointed out.

The truth is, this young man with an enormous passion for basketball has overcome all those hurdles and one far greater – a shattered pelvis from his near-fatal run-in.

Would you dare bet against him making it onto the international stage someday soon?

Paulo Kennedy

FIBA

FIBA’s columnists write on a wide range of topics relating to basketball that are of interest to them. The opinions they express are their own and in no way reflect those of FIBA.

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