Matthew Cadogan '22 Recruiting Profile

Matthew Cadogan: Personal Statement

 You would never know just by looking at me today all I overcame with an orange leather 29.5 inch globe. 

When I was younger, I struggled with my body’s high energy. While kids in my class could settle down, I just kept on going. My teachers did not know how to handle me. I remember the school telling my parents to “figure it out.” I questioned my parents about why I could not control this energy inside of me. They took me to specialists and nutritionists, who poked and prodded me and gave me awful tasting supplements.

 My doctor eventually told my parents to “just run him!” In Summer Camp, right before Fourth Grade, I discovered basketball. I played “Around the World” with the high school counselors and out shot all of them. That experience launched my basketball journey and I “ran” with it!

 Since then, I have played on no less than two basketball teams at a time. Dribbling the ball, making lay-ups, perimeter points, running drills, and blocking shots was the perfect way for me to release my energy and get in my “zone.” If I was not on the court, I would watch NBA games, play basketball video games, or just shoot an imaginary ball. 

This path had its own challenges. When I was in middle school, I was diagnosed with osteochondritis dissecans—meaning, “death of bone.” I grew so quickly that my knee bones splintered. This was devastating, since I had to follow my doctor’s orders and be out for eight weeks. I did not play games, jump or run during this time. It was torture for me. I focused on less jarring moves to keep my skills up, while I healed. Missing time made me worried about how good I would be after the injury. Ultimately, this setback fueled my comeback. 

Coming from an entire middle-school class of only eleven, to St. Thomas  Aquinas Catholic High School was an adjustment. Disappointingly, I did not make the Junior Varsity or Varsity team in my Freshman year. I thought my high school basketball career was a no-go. As it turns out, though, I had the absolute best experience. I gained lifelong friends with my teammates whom I call my “brothers.” Importantly, I learned the value of humility. I am not a flashy player nor a “ball hog,” but rather a team player determined to make the right and unselfish play for the overall good of my team. I apply this “We” over “Me” mentality outside of sports, since I always look to make sure friends and family are good no matter what the circumstances are. 

After that Freshman year, I worked hard and earned a spot on the Varsity Team in all years since then. Now, I stand proudly as one of the Captains of the Varsity Basketball Team. Notably, our Team won the award for having the best grades in our County—the most populous in the State. I take pride in being a “student-athlete” not an “athlete-student.” 

Through basketball, I learned to channel my energy. The grit and humility I gained has helped me not only become a better athlete but also a more empathetic person. As I achieve my goals daily, it makes me thank God that I found the perfect outlet for me to do what I love. These hurdles have molded me into a young man that always looks at the “bright side” and makes the right “shot.” It is through basketball that I have remained in my “flow,” academically, physically and socially. 

Even if I do not play basketball in College, which I pray I do, you will always find me on a court with a 29.5 inch globe in my hand.