SBLive Boys Basketball Recruiting Rankings: Wilson (Tacoma) guard Cayden McDaniel ranked No. 18 in Washington

In an effort to shine a brighter spotlight on Washington high school basketball players, we are introducing our first-ever SBLive Boys Basketball Recruiting

In an effort to shine a brighter spotlight on Washington high school basketball players, we are introducing our first-ever SBLive Boys Basketball Recruiting Rankings.

Our rankings are compiled by SBLive Basketball Analyst Dan Dickau based on observations and conversations with an extensive network of coaching and media sources across the country. The players have been evaluated through a college recruiting lens and analyzed in four categories: athleticism, ball skills, basketball IQ and upside.

Over the next few weeks we will roll out our Top 25 players in Washington. Here’s a closer look at No. 18 on the list, Wilson (Tacoma) guard Cayden McDaniel:

CAYDEN MCDANIEL

SBLIVEWARANKING: NO. 18

➡️ HEIGHT: 6-FOOT-3

➡️ WEIGHT: 175 POUNDS

➡️POSITION: GUARD

➡️CLASS: 2023

➡️HIGHSCHOOL: WILSON (TACOMA)

➡️HIGH SCHOOL COACH: MIKE COCKE

➡️2019-20 STATS: 10.8 PPG, 3.2 RPG, 2.3 APG

➡️CLUB TEAM: SEATTLE ROTARY

➡️TWITTER: @cayden_mcdaniel

DICKAU’S ANALYSIS

ATHLETICISM: McDaniel is a big, strong and athletic guard at 6-foot-3 and 175 pounds, and he could still grow. He is explosive in attacking the rim and his strength allows him to hold his line on dribble drive attacks. He has long arms which also allows him to defensively hound his opponents. 

BALL SKILLS: McDaniel is a combo guard who shows the ability to score with ease while also playing a lot at the point for his high school team. He has a good handle which becomes even better when you include his penchant for playing at his own pace. He can finish in traffic as well as knock it down from deep. His willingness and ability to guard on the perimeter has the potential to set him apart.

BASKETBALL IQ: It is hard for many young players to understand how to play the right way when they are really talented, but McDaniel plays the right way! He is very unselfish, plays at his own pace has a good feel for changing speeds and directions which can be rare for good athletes. He is very unselfish and will continue to play the right way because he plays for a really good high school coach at Wilson in Mike Cocke.

UPSIDE: McDaniel has huge upside. Could he be the next great guard from Tacoma following in Isaiah Thomas' and Malachi Flynn’s footsteps? He holds at least one Division I offer as a sophomore and many others have shown a lot of interest.

A determining factor in his recruitment will be if the schools recruiting him view him as a point guard or a two-guard. I wouldn’t be surprised if high majors show interest if he can prove consistency in his ability to shoot it. 

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SBLIVE WA RECRUITING RANKINGS

NO. 25: OMARI MAULANA, LIFE CHRISTIAN ACADEMY

NO. 24: KELSON GEBBERS, BREWSTER

NO. 23: TYCE PAULSEN, CURTIS

NO. 22: GAVIN MARRS, ELLENSBURG

NO. 21: COBI CAMPBELL, PUYALLUP

NO. 20: TYLER BILODEAU, KAMIAKIN

NO: 19: COOPER CHURCH, TAHOMA

NO. 18: CAYDEN MCDANIEL, WILSON