Cadeau leads National Swedish Basketball team

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By Josh Baker

Correspondent

WEST ORANGE, NJ – Earlier this year, West Orange High School rising senior Justin Cadeau wrapped up an exceptional tennis season. Now, his 14-year-old brother, Elliot, joined the National Swedish Basketball team for the North Sea Development Basketball Cup.

“I was surprised, but very honored,” said Cadeau. “It is pretty big.”

Competing against three other countries around the North Sea (Denmark, Netherlands and Germany), the team, known as Sverige HU15, consists of the top 15 Swedish players born in 2004. “Every year there is one team and the goal is for the young players to eventually play on the national men’s team and represent Sweden,” said Cadeau. “This tournament was the first one for the U15 team. The team will travel all over Europe from now until next summer where it accumulates in the European Championships.”

Preparations for the tournament began with a three-day training camp from Aug. 5-8. “Then we went to Denmark for the tournament Friday, Aug. 9 to Sunday, Aug. 11,” said Cadeau. “We played all teams and beat them all by 20 or more. We won the tournament and are now the 2019 champions!”

Elliot’s local New Jersey team, Sports U/Team IZOD, just won Under Armour Nationals a few weeks prior. The team is part of the Amateur Athletic Union. “We play AAU tournaments almost every weekend,” said Cadeau. “My team IZOD plays on the Under Armour circuit against other Under Armour-sponsored teams. My team won the Under Armour national championship this summer.”

“It is great for me to see him be invited to the Swedish National team as I am very proud of my native country,” said Elliot’s mother, Michelle. “All the work I did with him and his brother pays off now as he speaks Swedish and is totally comfortable in the Swedish culture.

“Elliot loves basketball and has worked hard on his craft since he was in second grade. He is an all-around great kid. He has his goals of playing Division 1 and understands that it will take a lot to get there, not only basketball skills. He works hard on his grades as well. I am amazed that he was picked for the team and extremely proud.”