Jamesville-DeWitt's Tyler Cavanaugh grabs a defensive rebound in the first quarter of their state regional semi-final game against Massena March 11 at Cicero-North Syracuse High School. When college coaches flocked to Jamesville-DeWitt High School to woo the big center with the growing reputation, they often left the building possessed by other possibilities.
Dajuan Coleman has long been a fixture on the national basketball recruiting landscape. His J-D teammate, Tyler Cavanaugh, emerged over the past few months as another intriguing option.
“A lot of these schools would come up to see Dajuan,” said J-D coach Bob McKenney, “and I don’t think anybody left without saying, ‘What’s up with the Cavanaugh kid?’”
What’s up these days, for Cavanaugh, is a widening array of potential college destinations. Once a target for mid-major Division I schools, Cavanaugh’s performance over a summer of camps and tournaments prompted two programs from renowned basketball conferences to offer scholarships. Syracuse University, which had extended an offer to Coleman years ago, has made the same pitch to Cavanaugh. Wake Forest also offered a scholarship.
Cavanaugh, who is 6-foot-8 and still growing (his dad is 6-10 and sprouted two inches in college), now finds himself in the center of a controlled recruiting storm. He has scheduled four official visits to Notre Dame, Wake, George Washington and Davidson. He plans to coordinate with SU coaches about an official visit to his hometown university. All of those schools, with the exception of Notre Dame, have offered scholarships.
Armed with a love for math, a 92 grade point average and a 1,200 score on his SAT, Cavanaugh has narrowed his search by the following criteria: The program must have solid academic credentials, a “good history” of competitive basketball and an atmosphere of chemistry and conviviality.
Jamesville-DeWitt's Tyler Cavanaugh drives to the basket against Harborfields in the New York State Public High School Athletic Association Class A basketball final March 20 in the Glens Falls Civic Center. J-D won 66-51. It was J-D's fourth straight state championship. “I always wanted to play Division I basketball. That’s always been my quest,” Cavanaugh said. “At a mid-major, I’d be able to make an impact right away and as a freshman play a lot of minutes. But I also believe that as a competitor I can do that at the highest levels, too, at the majors. So I’ve set my sights high and I hope, maybe, to play in the Big East some day. The mid-majors are also very appealing.”
What’s appealing about Cavanaugh is his willingness to work and his versatility. McKenney describes him as a “6-foot-8 kid with point guard skills” who is bright, ambitious and amenable to coaching suggestions. Cavanaugh led the Red Rams in 3-point shooting at 41 percent last season, despite what McKenney said was a miserable start shooting the ball. He will be used, at times this season, to bring the ball upcourt.
He can play a variety of positions, though his current size and offensive game -- with his ability to sink mid-range jumpers and attack the basket off the dribble -- is probably best suited to small forward. And he has worked diligently with J-D athletic trainer Dave Schultz to add bulk to his reedy, rangy body. Cavanaugh said he’s gained about 10 pounds of muscle over the summer to fill out to about 225 pounds.
That emphasis on weight training allowed him this summer to quash lingering questions about his ability to handle himself on the inside. Cavanaugh’s defining moment this summer, the one that provoked all those new coaching queries, happened at the AAU Nationals in Florida. Coleman was unavailable to play for the Albany City Rocks, which allowed Cavanaugh to shoulder a larger load, to prove that he could withstand the rigors inside the physical painted area.
“Last year and this year, he played with the Albany City Rocks and you really started to see more confidence from him. He had a very good July in Florida. Tyler took on the lead role and excelled at that,” said his dad, John Cavanaugh, himself an two-time All-America basketball player at Hamilton College. “He always had a little chip on his shoulder: ‘People don’t think I’m very good. People don’t think I’m that athletic.’ He knew that this summer was his last go-around. I don’t know if that gave him a little more fire. But he has played with much more confidence.”
Both Cavanaughs, father and son, acknowledge the importance of Coleman in Tyler Cavanaugh’s development. Coleman, a hulking 6-foot-9, dominates the post for J-D and for the City Rocks. He and Cavanaugh have played together since they were 14 or 15 years old. With Coleman anchored in the middle, Cavanaugh could expand his offensive repertoire and explore the perimeter.
“I love playing with Dajuan,” Cavanaugh said. “He’s obviously helped me get a lot better. In Florida, when he wasn’t there, I got a lot more attention, but I love playing with Day. He’s a great player, he’s helped me develop. And at another high school, I’d probably be stuck in the post. But with him there, I can use my skill set and play inside and out and roam.”
Whether or not Cavanaugh roams from the sights of the Carrier Dome will be determined over the next couple months. Cavanaugh had hoped to make a decision before J-D started its 2011-12 season, but acknowledged the process might drag into late fall or winter.
He has long been a Syracuse fan, a boy who once imagined playing for the team of his childhood dreams. Hal Cohen, the former SU guard, works out with Cavanaugh occasionally, helping to shape his shot. And John Cavanaugh admitted his wife “would be excited (if Tyler chose SU), because it’s a mile down the road.”
The Cavanaughs are a tight, athletic family. Tyler’s younger sister, Kayleigh, plays on the girls basketball team. Tyler Cavanaugh said family members often gather on the basketball half-court in their yard to shoot around.
Much of his extended family lives in the Syracuse area, which makes SU an appealing destination.
“Obviously, J-D’s had a tradition with Andy (Rautins), Brandon (Triche) going there. I’ve talked to Brandon about it,” said Tyler Cavanaugh, who played this summer on a King of Kings summer league team with Triche. “It’s obviously a dream to play in the Dome, to play for Coach Boeheim and Coach Hop. It’s another dimension if me and Dajuan were to go there. To play together again, that would be great. But you’ve got to take everything in perspective. We’ll see. I want to take my time, make the right choice.”
Donna Ditota can be reached at 470-2208 or dditota@syracuse.com.
Tyler Cavanaugh's scheduled recruiting visits:
Sept. 16-17: Notre Dame
Sept. 23-24: Wake Forest
Oct. 14-15: George Washington
Oct. 21-22: Davidson