There’s no one hotter on the Foxes basketball team right now than senior Caden Kaiser who, if his momentum continues, is on track for the breakout season of his high school career. In the initial weeks of the 2024-2025 season, he’s already topped his career-high single-game points three times.
Caden’s journey hasn’t been without some challenges. As a sophomore, he started most games, but a broken wrist sidelined him for the first half of his junior year. Now fully healthy, more mature, and noticeably stronger – thanks in part to summer work hauling downed trees and brush for a local tree service – he’s ready to take his game to the next level.
“Honestly, the manual labor in the summer was perfect for the offseason,” he says.“It kept me active, especially during the really hot days, when I got a good sweat. So, for sure it could have played a part in staying in shape. I would say this year I’ve definitely gotten stronger and faster, but more so, I’d say I’ve gotten smarter on how to use my body and I am able to stay more composed, both on and off the court.”
Earning Confidence
Coach Zach Skrinjar has always recognized Caden’s inherent talent, but notes a significant difference this season.
“He’s always had great potential,” says the coach. “As a senior, it is showing through in practices and games, and he’s also become a more vocal leader. We would like to see him continue to put that into game situations. Caden has the ability to change the game and impact it on offense and defense.
“When he focuses and plays to his strengths, he can be one of the top players in (WPIAL Class) 6A. He can get out of space, push the dribble, and find his teammates so they can also succeed. His passing and court awareness have been superb so far. When he uses those skills and attributes correctly, the sky is the limit for him. He showed some glimpses of that last season, so we are looking forward to him elevating his level of play and being more consistent.”
The 6’2” forward has clear objectives for his final high school season; for example, over the summer, he worked hard on improving his pace and ball control.
“My goals are to play every game the best I can, with the hope my teammates will do the same. The way this season is going so far, going undefeated sounds pretty nice to me.”
Shaler Area Game Sets Tone
In their first game of the regular season, the Fox Chapel Area faced Shaler Area, last year’s Class 5A section champion. The Foxes came out rather flat and, at the half, coach Skrinjar reminded the players they were capable of much more.
Caden took that message to heart and ended the game with his first single-game career-high record.
“I personally knew I was capable of playing with more confidence than I did in the first half,” Caden admits. And that’s when the magic kicked in for him. “This season I have definitely been playing with more confidence than before, and that has allowed me to contribute what I’m capable of to my fullest.”
It’s been a fulfilling ride so far, and Caden is happy to finally be able to make a big impact, although the number of 2s and 3s aren’t the be-all, end-all for him.
“Breaking personal records is nice, but at the end of the day I want to win,” Caden says. “As a team, we are able to do even more than we’ve shown this past week. Everyone’s willingness to share the ball has definitely played a factor, as well as the trust we’ve developed in each other.”
Inspiration and Versatility
Although the team was moved up to WPIAL Class 6A once again after spending the past two years in 5A, Caden is unfazed, saying, “It doesn’t matter what class or section we’re in, this team is capable of competing with anyone.”
He’s had good inspiration for holding on to that positivity, starting when he was a freshman. He saw the dedication and commitment of the upperclassmen that entire season, which culminated with the Foxes winning the school’s first WPIAL championship in decades – in Class 6A.
Caden recalls, “Being around that group of guys as a freshman was certainly impactful. I learned a lot from them. What always stood out to me was the fact that they didn’t care who scored or who had a highlight. They each had the same goal in mind, which was to win. I would say that has certainly helped influence me as a player, and especially now as I start my senior year.”
Caden’s positivity that carried over from those early days of his career, combined with his adaptability, can play a big role in fulfilling the current team’s goals. While primarily a forward, his versatility allows him to guard both bigger and smaller players
“We will look to Caden to be a very large part of our run for the playoffs,” says coach Skrinjar. “Our hope is that as the season progresses, we as a team will also continue to improve in all aspects of the game.”