UNC basketball guard Elliot Cadeau — Photo credit: Melina Myers-USA TODAY Sports

UNC Basketball: Mother of Elliot Cadeau Mocks Early Naysayers

There's no doubt UNC basketball's standing as a title contender would be weaker had Elliot Cadeau not reclassified.

Author:
Matt Giles
Jan 29, 2024 5:45 AM EST

In this story:

Michelle Cadeau was a notably active fan on social media in the months before her son, Elliot Cadeau, began his UNC basketball rookie campaign. But in early November, she informed her X followers that she would refrain from posting there until after the now-No. 3 Tar Heels (17-3, 9-0 ACC) wrapped up their season in the spring.

She held to that vow until briefly reemerging on Christmas Day. Then, she began posting again consistently in early January, understandable in light of the lightning-quick Elliot Cadeau's thrilling emergence as one of the most impactful weapons for one of the nation's premier teams.

Now, Michelle Cadeau appears fully back to social media, offering advice to mothers of current top-shelf preps while publicly supporting and, when called for, defending her son and a UNC squad that stretched its winning streak to 10 via Saturday's 75-68 road victory over Florida State (12-8, 6-3 ACC).

Shortly after the game, she called out all the folks who, when Cadeau announced his reclassification from 2024, doubted whether her 6-foot-1 son and 6-foot-flat senior RJ Davis could thrive together as undersized backcourt starters.

In the post below, she mocked what they warned back then: "They will never start Elliot. Him and RJ are too small. He should stay in HS."

Against the Seminoles, Elliot Cadeau showed off his expanding scoring prowess and ability to get to the charity stripe, to the tune of a career-high 16 points and 8-for-9 clip at the line, all while dishing out six assists. It marked his first time as a Tar Heel with double-digit points in back-to-back outings.

Yes, it's a good thing he didn't stay in high school another year.

Not only does Cadeau start, but the electrifying floor general's May 2023 decision to reclassify has aided RJ Davis in putting together his career year. And judging by the group's encouraging on-court chemistry and impressive continued development, Cadeau's decision could go down as the catalyst to the Tar Heels playing in April 2024.