What Five-star Cade Cunningham Said of OSU Hiring His Older Brother

Oklahoma State was considered the frontrunner to land five-star prospect Cade Cunningham after a surge among insiders in recent months. Now it should be considered a foregone conclusion after its hiring of Cannen Cunningham, his older brother, on Tuesday.

Or at least that’s how most people’s line of thinking goes.

Perhaps not for Cade, though. In an interview just after Cannen was hired, Cade talked with Rivals who explained that, yes, it matters. But that it won’t be the determining factor in his heated recruitment.

“My recruitment is still completely open,” he told Rivals. “I love my brother forever and that is obviously a big factor but it doesn’t determine my recruitment.

“My brother has been my guy, I mean, he was the one that put the ball in my hands. He has been the guy that pretty much determines everything that I have been doing with my development and where I am now. He is my guy.”

Whatever the opposite of music to my ears is whatever Cade just said. But know this: most prospects in a similar spot would say the same. Even if it is the winning move — and most believe it is — Cunningham isn’t going to hit us with an ACTUALLY THAT DID IT I’M COMMITTING ON THE SPOT.

He’s the No. 3 player in the 2020 class. Even if this officially (unofficially) gives OSU his commitment down the road, he’s a big brand in the making. Many consider him a frontrunner to be the No. 1 pick in 2021. When he commits, it’ll be on his terms, and only if it’s the situation he believes suits him best.

“He got hired and he had to take the job,” he added. “It was a great opportunity. I wanted for him to take the job but I don’t think that it sways my recruitment or my decision because he knows what is best for me. I want to be with him and he wants to be with me but I am not going to go to a spot that is not best for me and he is not going to put me at a place that is not best for me.”

Cade has every right to slow play this decision, and no one knows exactly when this decision may come. But regardless of whether he slow-plays it, as he did Tuesday, or insta-commits, OSU figures to be in better position than any other program. And with an advantage the size roughly of 6-foot-10, 225 pounds, it’s all but time to celebrate what could be the single biggest commitment in OSU basketball history.