Recruiting Report: Mario Caywood (2018)
With a bunch of high school forward/center-types making their way out to the perimeter to become stretch-4s, Mario Caywood (2018) is going against the grain. Caywood, a 6’6” post player from Cleveland Benedictine, does squats during the football season to add power to his post moves and excels at defense.
“My best strength is probably my low-post and my defense,” Caywood said.
This summer, Caywood especially impressed us in the final weekend of the grassroots season, when TNBA East took won the GRBA National Championships. Against premier competition, Caywood bullied defenders with strong post moves and finished with touch.
While he won’t always have the height advantage at the college level, Caywood’s strength will allow him to be effective.
A few Division III programs have taken notice and also like what they see out of Caywood.
“I’ve talked to Heidelberg, Hiram, Marietta, I think La Roche,” Caywood told Prep Hoops. Caywood has also heard from Malone in the past, but it’s been a while since they’ve communicated.
Caywood is “keeping [his] options open.” But, amongst the group of interested schools, Heidelberg and Marietta have shown the most interest.
Even though Caywood is in the thick of football season, he’s beginning the campus visit portion of his recruitment process.
“I went to Heidelberg last week. It was pretty good … I’m supposed to go to Hiram, I think, Wednesday. And then Marietta the 25th,” Caywood said.
Caywood has started to figure out what he’s looking for in a college program.
“Making sure it’s a close-knit group. Trying to see where has less distractions, because I can get distracted sometimes. And I want to go to school to be a physical therapist, so probably go to the best program for that,” Caywood said.
On his visit to Heidelberg, Caywood was impressed with their physical therapist program.
Going into next season at Benedictine, Caywood seems confident about Bene’s team, despite graduating seven seniors. He told us that he believes they’ll play an “open” offensive style of ball. With that being said, he’s looking to add some ball-handling abilities and quickness to his game.