Kaden O’Brien-James '26 Recruiting Profile

Coaches consistently find me respectful, coachable, and encouraging to teammates-- whether football, baseball, or tennis—and I even received the “most supportive athlete” award in an elementary school multi-sport summer camp. I enjoy many sports, and up until I tried out for JV basketball, I had no trouble making it onto teams, because I’m a quick learner, and coaches and teammates love the energy I bring. Not making that team was a big blow, but a major turning point!  It lit a fire for basketball in me, and I put all my energy into learning all I could about the game, and how to better myself, on and off the court. The next year I made JV, the following year I made varsity, and I continue to learn and grow as I go. Because of how special coaches have been for me in this process, I want to study sports leadership and become a coach when I graduate. 

I’m a high energy player. I’m known for my hustle—going after boxouts, rebounds, loose balls—and I’m also a vocal player. My talk on the floor energizes the defense, and helps teammates make smart passes and shots. Even when I’m on the bench, you can hear me shouting as loud as the coaches. I’ve also coached girls’ high school and middle school tournament games. I’m a big fan of many sports, and I love to just be a part of it all—whether it’s on the court or behind the scenes. I’ll work the scoreboard at AAU games, and I’ve even been a mascot at two different high schools. I attended just about all school volleyball games, as one of the loudest fans! In middle school, I won most school spirit.

While sports are my passion, especially basketball, I am known as a dog and cat whisperer—I love animals, and can get even difficult creatures to warm up to me. I have volunteered dozens of hours with our local humane society. I also love music, took drum set lessons for awhile and love attending concerts. Recently, I started a clothing brand called Solace Outfitters-- the concept is destressing through sports. It has taught me so much about marketing, finance, graphic design, and more. I look forward to bringing my energy to a team that is cohesive and feels like a family, that knows the meaning of supporting each other. And if it’s not there already, I can help build it!