Recruiting Report: Kade Stearns (2019)
Tea Area junior shooter Kade Stearns has a lot of basketball left to play, but has already had a lot of success. He talked with PHD today.
In March Stearns was knocking down threes for a state champ. In April he was helping his South Dakota Storm team win the Comets Shootout. And in the summer he was playing in some excellent tournaments playing well.
“The top highlights of my 16u season was playing in some very competitive tournaments,” Stearns said. “I felt we got some good exposure wherever we played because of the success we had.
“Winning the Comets Spring Shootout tournament and playing tough teams in the KC Hardwood Classic and in the Midwest Showcase in Omaha. Just being able to showcase my ability and my competitiveness against tough teams was a huge confidence boost for me personally.
“I have improved on scoring off the dribble, attacking the rim, and attacking on ball and off ball screens because I know I will be asked to do a lot more on the offensive end this upcoming high school season with our leading scorer Ethan Freidel graduating.
“I will need to be a versatile threat on offense to go along with my defense. I was very pleased with my improvements over the summer and I am very proud and humbled by the fact that a couple of schools have reached out with interest in me.”
Nine of the ten players from the Tea Area state title team are returning but repeating is tough. Stearns has a plan for who he wants to improve so he is ready for his upperclassmen years.
“My main focus for improvement before practice begins would be working on getting stronger and working in the gym on my scoring and keeping up my defense, being able to play at the next level,” Kade said.
“Going in for an hour lift, then shooting and defense. Being able to transition with the same intensity on the defensive end to the offensive end. With other athletics, just putting in time towards soccer and football and working towards the state championship in both sports.”
We’ve spoke about several Tea Area players recently. Noah Freidel and Justin Hohm are two names that stick out. Stearns joins them in having the ultimate goal for the season.
“Our team this winter should be very strong again. We are the defending state champions and we truly believe with the pieces we have coming back we can make another championship run again this year.
“We only lose one starter in a graduating Ethan Freidel. Our four out of five starters were sophomores last year. We have another two years to continue our success. Losing Ethan is a huge loss but we have other guys that can step up and make up for that offensive piece and leadership.
“Last year, we were the underdogs and now this coming season we have a target on our back and teams are going to want to knock us off. I’m looking forward to having the same success this coming season and the challenges we may face.”
A pair of local schools have called Stearns thinking about him for the future of their college basketball programs.
“I have had interest from Mount Marty and Northwestern so far,” Stearns said.
Stearns is a shooter and he looks up to other shooters at the college and pro level as he works to become a better player.
“The two basketball players that have influenced my game the most would be Grayson Allen because I got a chance to meet him and I love his passion and competitiveness. Also JJ Redick for his shooting ability.”