MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — University High point guard Kaden Metheny had a lot of offers to choose from, but when it came down to it, he wanted to go to the place that most felt like home.
That’s exactly the environment he felt when he visited Bowling Green two weeks ago.
“When I took my official visit, it just felt like home right away,” Metheny said. “The coaches have done a great job in recruiting me and I have great relationships with them.”
The Falcons appear to be a program on the rise, going 22-12 before losing to Buffalo in the MAC tournament in mid-March. Those are the most wins in a season in nearly two decades (2001-02).
Coach Michael Huger took over at Bowling Green, his alma mater, in 2015 after spending four years as an assistant at Miami (Fla.). Prior, he coached at George Mason and Longwood. His entire playing career was spent in Europe from 1993-2005.
What drew Metheny to Huger was the talent he coached at Miami, including guards Shane Larkin and Angel Rodriguez. Dylan Frye, who will enter his senior season at Bowling Green this winter, has a similar playing style to Metheny, and Metheny is excited to see if he can follow in his footsteps.
“Coach Huger was honest with me the entire time and didn’t guarantee me anything,” Metheny said. “He said I have to earn everything, which I love. Their starting point guard is a senior so they said they are going to have a need at the guard position. With their offense, they play with three guards, and the [point and shooting guards] are interchangeable, which I also love.”
Metheny told The Dominion Post in July that he wanted to make his college decision prior to the high school basketball season in hopes to avoid all distractions as UHS looks to repeat as state champions. Metheny was critical in the Hawks’ run to the state title, the first in school history, averaging 23.5 points per game last season and has already pass the 1,000-point mark in his career halfway through his junior season.
He’s earned all-state honors all three years, including first team last season.
“My family and I always knew that I wanted to commit before the season so I can focus on winning another state championship with my brothers,” Metheny said. “Through a lot of prayers, we felt that we knew Bowling Green was the right place for me, so we decided that this was the perfect time to make the decision.”
Metheny held Division-I offers from Drexel, Western Carolina, USC-Upstate, Youngstown State, Rhode Island, Toledo, Lipscomb, Holy Cross, Akron, South Alabama, Elon, William & Mary, James Madison and Lafayette.
He and UHS teammate KJ McClurg also had offers from Niagara.
The Hawks will begin their title defense Dec. 10 at Buckhannon-Upshur.
