KADE SHOOK — THE ULTIMATE TEAMMATE
By Michael Bray
A much-used phrase in sports is “There is no I in TEAM.”
Roland’s Kade Shook is the very epitome of that expression. That in itself is an asset but for the junior guard it is also a good stepping stone.
“The challenge has been learning to stay patient with my development, and learning when to shoot,” he said. “Some tell me I need to be selfish because I’m so unselfish with the ball and I’ve had to learn when to shoot the ball and be confident and balancing expectations while continuing to improve.”
His coach, Ed Lewis, expressed that this is the reason Shook is so valuable in the Rangers’ lineup while he is very athletic and has great court awareness.
“He sees people open on offense and will make a great pass to them and he has a good midrange game along with his 3 point game,” Lewis said. “He is a great teammate to play with because of his ability to pass the ball and he doesn’t mind sharing it.”
At six-foot-three, Kade was one of Roland’s leading rebounders last season and according to Lewis is on track to be “one our top rebounders this year,” he said, “also he gets along with everyone on the team.”
Shook attributed his work ethic to be the driving force in his life.
“I take pride in being dependable and pushing myself every day, even when no one is watching,” he said. “My drive for basketball comes from wanting to lead, win, and prove to myself how far hard work can take me. I’m very routine-driven and goal-oriented. I enjoy training, watching basketball, and learning the game. Watching players that know the game helps me improve in every way possible. I like staying active and improving both physically and mentally.”
Those work ethics are found in his role models, the late Kobe Bryant and veteran pro star Chris Paul.
“Those guys work harder than everyone else and elevate their teams. I respect players who are vocal leaders, stay disciplined and hold themselves accountable on and off the court.”
Kade said that he tries to bring to the Rangers leadership, court vision and energy. “As a point guard, I focus on getting teammates involved, finding the people that are hot, setting the pace and staying composed in pressure situations,” Shook said. “I’m willing to do the dirty work and lead vocally when the team needs it.”
Team chemistry has undeniably been achieved with him and his teammates as he noted that some of his favorite moments are competing with them in practice and watching the hard work payoff during games.
“Especially when we play together and execute as a unit, getting stops on defense and not letting teams get past half court. Those moments remind me why I put in the work,” said the junior point guard.
Kade’s future goals are to continue developing as a leader and a player at the highest level. “My goal is to play basketball at the collegiate level and keep pushing myself to improve every year,” he added. “I would love the opportunity to play at the University of Arkansas.”
But before that, there still remain goals to accomplish at Roland.
“Personally, my goals are to improve my strength, consistency and decision-making as a point guard,” Shook said. “For my team, my goal is to win, build chemistry and compete for the state championship in March.”
