By Bobby Narang
Caden Pierce has gained the experience of a lifetime of memories in a two-year span.
Last year, Pierce played a leading role in one of the best seasons for a Chicagoland basketball team in the last few decades. Pierce and Braden Huff were the main figures, but the Hilltoppers relied on an athletic starting five to win the program’s first high school State tournament championship.
Behind Pierce and Huff, Bobby Durkin, Paxton Warden, and Ryan Renfro, the Hilltoppers won 37 of their 38 games which culminated with a dominating 56-34 victory over Young High School in the Class 4A championship game March 12, 2022.
A year later, the 6-foot-6 Pierce built upon his standout senior year by playing a main role for the Princeton University Tigers. He was named the Ivy League Rookie of the Year, sparking a stunning turn around that started with a 58-56 victory over Harvard February 25. With that victory, the Tigers rode an historic wave that included six straight victories before losing, 86-75, to Creighton last weekend the NCAA Tournament Sweet 16.
In that span, the Tigers won the Ivy League Tournament, upset both Arizona and Missouri and captured the hearts of the country with the best tournament showing in program history in almost six decades. As a No. 15 seed, the Tigers gained national attention for their stunning run to the Louisville Regional tournament.
Pierce, a Glen Ellyn native, had several clutch moments in the tournament by hitting two free throws with 21 seconds remaining in regulation to defeat Arizona. He came up big with nine points and 16 rebounds in the second round victory over Missouri.
Glenbard West head coach Jason Opoka said it was a memorable experience watching Pierce shine on the national stage. Braden Huff had a good vantage point in Gonzaga’s run to the Elite Eight last week. (See the tournament brackets on page 12.) The 6-foot-11 Huff, though, elected to be a non-playing redshirt his freshman year and will still have four years of eligibility remaining.
“Glenbard West and the town of Glen Ellyn are proud of Caden and Braden’s accomplishments,” Opoka said. “They’re living every child’s dream. Just to see the joy and brotherhood they have created this early in their college careers couldn’t help but remind me of our State championship run last year.
“The only difference now is that the entire State is cheering them on. Both players have worked extremely hard to put themselves in situations to excel and continue to find positive ways to impact our community.”
Opoka said Pierce is the consummate do-it-all team player.
“Caden is a winner,” Opoka said. “He understands the importance of being a team player. For me, I know he will give everything he has for the goodness of the team. There wasn’t a doubt in my mind that he would sink those two free throws against Arizona, or dominate the glass against Missouri. Seeing the pure joy in him after those victories reminded me of why I wanted to become an educator and coach.”