Wilkins shines on the court, stays patient in recruiting
There are some very good high school rivalry games in the Quad Cities area. One of the more underrated and heated battles in any sport is between Bettendorf and Pleasant Valley. The two high schools are a few miles apart and when they tangle it’s always a spirited affair.
Tuesday night, perhaps the top high school basketball player in the state of Iowa in the Class of 2024 put on a show as Bettendorf beat PV, 41-35. Caden Wilkins, who some services believe is the top player in the state in his class, scored 21 points and pulled down seven rebounds in the win.
“I would say this one and the earlier win this year over Pleasant Valley were my two favorite wins of my career as a Bulldog,” Wilkins said after the game.
One of the most impressive aspects of Wilkins game was his outside shooting. He made 5 of 9 from three and scored 11 of his 21 points in the fourth period as the Bulldogs pulled away for the victory.
“I have been working on my shot a lot, but I have been struggling with it as well. There is a lot that goes into it and tonight I just focused on my keys and let it fly,” Wilkins said. “I just kept trying to focus and I knew my team needed me to score and the shots were falling tonight.”
The 6-foot-6 and 200 pound forward in the Class of 2024 is remaining patient as far as recruiting. He knows that coaches are limited in their opportunities to get out to see him play during the season. Wilkins said that Iowa assistant coach Matt Gatens had been out to see him recently and Iowa State assistant coach Kyle Green was in for a game earlier in the season.
Wilkins currently has scholarship offers from Bryant and Indiana State. He’s heard a bit from UNI as well. Drake was showing interest, but that was when Gatens was on their staff. Gatens is now continuing his recruiting efforts as a member of the Iowa staff.
“He has told me that I am near the top of their board and that maybe there are some guys that they have already offered that aren’t as high. Being an in-state kid, they told me they are going to keep watching me.”
