6-foot-1 guard Kaden Holdbrook enjoyed a solid senior basketball season in 2022-23 at the Asheville School located in Asheville, North Carolina and generated more than interest from Macalester (Minn) College Coach Abe Woldeslassie. An offer was extended and accepted and Holdbrook has adapted quickly to college hoops. He is currently sitting second in scoring for Macalester at 14.4 points per game while shooting a remarkable 46%, 44% and 84% respectively, alongside 3.3 rebounds a game and 24 assists versus just 11 turnovers. Very few college freshman, while learning new systems on both offense and defense, contribute at Holdbrook's rate so quickly.
"Kaden has been a terrific addition to our team," said his coach Abe Woldeslassie. "He has an extremely high basketball IQ and is committed to getting better each day. We are grateful that Kaden is at Macalester."
A former Gunn High student-athlete who transferred to The Asheville School, Holdbrook is known for a quick and accurate release plus an above average level of basketball acumen. Or as he puts it, "playing fast, with transition threes, fast reads and reacting well on close outs."
Why did he stick with basketball? "I played every sport including lacrosse but basketball was the most fun and fast-paced." His father played hoops in high school and still plays pickup basketball. "A pass first mentality was instilled in me because of my father." Asked what is the biggest adjustment he has had to make in the move up to college play, Holdbrook said, "defense."
The highest grade point average Holdbrook posted is an extremely respectable and obviously good enough to enter Macalester 3.8.
Regarding leadership on his team, "I lead with what I can like playing hard and putting the work in to get better. We have three captains on our team." There are also six upperclassmen on the team so a freshman has to pick and choose his moments.
Why did he make the jump across the country and away from family and friends? "Because of the effect Covid was having on athletics back in California. I wanted to play." A friend recommended The Asheville School, saying great things about it and I decided to go there without even visiting."
Asked who has been the most influential and helpful during his basketball journey, Holdbrook named "his parents first for all they have helped and done," then "my coaches and teammates at Macalester" and saved for last "my (Asheville) basketball coach Nick Whitmore." His praise for Whitmore was succinct but powerful -- "he changed my game." Whitmore recently moved on to a D1 position as an assistant coach at Wyoming after almost four years coaching in Ashville.
Holdbrook chose Macalester College, founded in 1874 and a top 25 liberal arts college in the United States with 2,200 students from all 50 U.S. states and over 90 countries. He is certainly making the most of his opportunities in St. Paul.
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