Five-star guard Elliot Cadeau reclassifies, will join UNC for 2023-24 season

North Carolina’s backcourt is receiving a reinforcement. 

Point guard and Tar Heels commit for the class of 2024 Elliot Cadeau told ESPN Tuesday that he is reclassifying to the 2023 class. Cadeau will join North Carolina this summer and said that he has his eyes on the 2024 NBA Draft.

“My goal was always to be one and done,” said the No. 10 prospect in the 2024 ESPN 100. “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.” 

Based on the tape, Cadeau will add serious playmaking punch to head coach Hubert Davis’ third roster. With a quick crossover, deft finishing skills, crafty passing abilities and silky shooting touch, it is no wonder the NBA is top of mind for the Link Academy (Branson, Mo.) product.

He might turn just 19 in September, but Cadeau has a breadth of high-quality experience at the high school, grassroots and national team levels. He led Link Academy to the Geico Nationals title back in April, led the Nike EYBL scene in assists per game at 9.3 and has suited up for Sweden’s U16, U18 and senior teams in the previous three summers. (His mother is Swedish.) Clearly, he is ready for the task in Chapel Hill, N.C.

How he fits alongside North Carolina guard R.J. Davis is a question mark, though. Davis and Caleb Love, who has since transferred to Arizona, struggled to gel throughout much of the 2022-23 season, and with transfers Cormac Ryan, Paxson Wojcik, Harrison Ingram and Jae’Lyn Withers entering the fray, developing chemistry may take time. 

Plus, Cadeau and Davis sit at just 6-foot-2 and 6-foot, respectively, which could lead to opposing teams picking on the Tar Heel backcourt. However, there no doubt comes an infusion of talent with Cadeau’s reclassification.