BUCKHANNON, WV- In a surprising, yet necessary turn of events, Cadence Stewart, the renowned former Greenbrier East Lady Spartan basketball player, has announced her decision to transfer schools following the abrupt closure of Alderson Broaddus, where she had originally committed to continue her hoops career.
Stewart, an all-state player and the second leading scorer in East history who is also known for her exceptional 3-point shooting, was left with no choice but to transfer after Alderson Broaddus abruptly shut its doors and will now suit up for West Virginia Wesleyan this winter.
The news of the closure came as a shock to the athletic and academic community, leaving many student-athletes unsure about their immediate futures. However, Stewart saw the writing on the wall when her AB coach resigned a couple weeks before the news.
“Initially, I wasn’t too shocked because I had pulled my letter of intent two weeks earlier when my coach left AB. By the time AB closed I had already decided on Wesleyan. I did, however, feel bad for the students and athletes at AB because it was such late notice,” Stewart said.
Stewart’s decision to transfer comes after careful consideration of her options and the potential impact on her athletic career. She and her father, former East athletic director, Jason Stewart, kept the phones busy and called every school that offered her during the recruiting process once Cadence was released from her national letter of intent.
That is when WV Wesleyan stepped up.
“My dad and I contacted every school that had offered me before, plus a few others after I had been released from my NLI. Originally, Wesleyan wasn’t an option, but they called later on and made it work for me. I am really happy that Coach (Brett) Vincent got me to Wesleyan because I think it was a good academic and athletic fit,” Stewart explained.
Despite facing unexpected challenges and stressing herself to max levels, the freshman is excited about her new opportunity and feels like it was the best option on the table.
“It feels like the next best thing for me for sure. I was very stressed trying to find a school and now stressed trying to make sure everything is done in such a short amount of time. But overall, I’m excited about it,” she reiterated.
Stewart remains optimistic about her role on her new team, but coming from a school where a role was already carved out for her, she is keeping realistic expectations about her situation, but her long-distance shooting could possibly pay dividends when it comes to playing time.
“It may be harder to get on the floor at Wesleyan due to being such a late addition. I do think my ability to shoot the ball will get me on the court. Overall, I don’t think my role is that different,” Stewart stated.
Stewart’s transfer is a reminder of the resilience and adaptability of student-athletes. We all wish her well, and she is extremely grateful for her family sticking by her side through her quick, second, unwanted recruiting process.
“I would also like to thank my parents and family for supporting me through this tough time. It was the two most stressful weeks of my life, but I am excited and grateful I found another home.
It will not take the players and staff at WV Wesleyan long to realize how grateful they are to have her on the roster.
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