By ZACH SMART
Being from Louisville, Ky., Class of 2025 guard Kaden Magwood has heard all about legendary homegrown products such as Allan Houston, Rajon Rondo, D’Angelo Russell, and others. Entering his junior year at traditional national power Oak Hill Academy (VA), Magwood is looking to add national credibility to his own name, as he is flushed into a prominent role as a battle-tested guard.
“This year at Oak Hill, I am going to have to transition to being a leader on the court and off it,” said Magwood, who has picked up an offers from Penn State and Illinois and heard from Providence, Indiana, and others following the Nike Elite 100 event in St. Louis.
“Coach (Yerrick) Stoneman, he expects that from me. We have a lot of new guys coming in. It is going to be up to me to show them the way.”
With his fluid mid-range game, knack for creating space, and handle, the long-armed and 6-foot-3 Magwood was able to set a loud tone during the Nike Elite 100.
His ability to operate offense and polished three-level scoring aptitude generated buzz throughout the event, as Magwood emerged as one of the more noteworthy performers among a torrent of young talent.
“When I first got there, nobody really knew who I was,” Magwood said.
“I was communicative, I was being loud and talking the whole time with my team. I think it was just a matter of me being vocal and just winning over my teammates. We went 0-3 the first day, then we went 2-1 the second day. The last two days, we went 3-0 and won it.” Magwood possesses significant elevation on his shot and has opened up a wide ranging arsenal which includes step-backs, transition 3-pointers, and vertically explosive, ambidextrous finishing. He was quick to cite play-making as his bedrock asset as a player. Louisville, which looks to revitalize the program following a downtrodden, dungeon dwelling 2022-23 season, has expressed interest in Magwood. The Cardinals recently secured a commitment from electrifying, 6-foot Brooklyn-bred point guard Ty-Laur Johnson, a Class of 2023 recruit who re-opened his recruitment after de-committing from Memphis. Magwood will visit the campus, which is five minutes from his home, for a workout on Tuesday. Magwood has developed a relationship with Louisville assistant coach Nolan Smith, the former Duke guard. Smith, like Magwood, is from Louisville originally and also played at Oak Hill Academy. Magwood is looking to set up visits to Illinois and Indiana as well.
LSU, Georgetown, Wake Forest, Boston College, Texas A & M, Ole Miss, and others have all contacted Magwood since the direct contact period opened. Photo: @dswervo305 Follow Zach on Twitter Follow Adam Zagoria on Twitter Follow ZAGSBLOGHoops on Instagram And Like ZAGS on Facebook
“I was communicative, I was being loud and talking the whole time with my team. I think it was just a matter of me being vocal and just winning over my teammates. We went 0-3 the first day, then we went 2-1 the second day. The last two days, we went 3-0 and won it.” Magwood possesses significant elevation on his shot and has opened up a wide ranging arsenal which includes step-backs, transition 3-pointers, and vertically explosive, ambidextrous finishing. He was quick to cite play-making as his bedrock asset as a player. Louisville, which looks to revitalize the program following a downtrodden, dungeon dwelling 2022-23 season, has expressed interest in Magwood. The Cardinals recently secured a commitment from electrifying, 6-foot Brooklyn-bred point guard Ty-Laur Johnson, a Class of 2023 recruit who re-opened his recruitment after de-committing from Memphis. Magwood will visit the campus, which is five minutes from his home, for a workout on Tuesday. Magwood has developed a relationship with Louisville assistant coach Nolan Smith, the former Duke guard. Smith, like Magwood, is from Louisville originally and also played at Oak Hill Academy. Magwood is looking to set up visits to Illinois and Indiana as well.
LSU, Georgetown, Wake Forest, Boston College, Texas A & M, Ole Miss, and others have all contacted Magwood since the direct contact period opened. Photo: @dswervo305 Follow Zach on Twitter Follow Adam Zagoria on Twitter Follow ZAGSBLOGHoops on Instagram And Like ZAGS on Facebook
