East Carolina has added another player to its roster for the upcoming season, securing a commitment from 6-foot-10, 215-pound forward from Kingston High School in Oklahoma.
Cason recently took an official visit to East Carolina and decided to join the Pirates despite offers from Portland, Penn, Air Force, and Army. After visiting each of those schools, he chose to commit to head coach Michael Schwartz and his staff.
Originally a 2024 recruit, Cason reclassified to the 2025 class after enrolling at PHH Prep in Phoenix, Arizona. However, with the opportunity East Carolina offered, he decided to enroll for the upcoming season. Cason is expected to be the 13th and final scholarship player for the Pirates in the 2024-25 season.
“The main reasons for choosing this school were the staff and the community,” Cason said. “From the moment we arrived in Greenville, it was clear how much the city supports ECU. Conversations with people at places like gas stations and the airport revealed their strong affection for the school. ECU basketball has the most dedicated coaching staff I’ve ever encountered. Coach Schwartz was deeply involved in my recruitment, which was unique compared to my experiences with other schools. The players were incredibly welcoming, making me feel like ECU was truly home.”
As a senior at Kingston, Cason was highly effective, averaging a double-double with 23 points and 12 rebounds per game. His high school highlights mainly show him dominating in the paint against smaller opponents, with a knack for scoring near the rim. Cason also demonstrated his ability to make occasional three-point shots.
Cason is the third high school recruit from the 2024 class to commit to East Carolina, joining combo guard Ladontae Felton and three-star guard Tyler Bailey, both of whom are already enrolled and practicing with the team. Cason is expected to join them shortly.
In total, Cason will be the ninth new player for the upcoming season. The Pirates have also brought in six transfers: four from Division I programs (Jordan Riley from Temple, CJ Walker from UCF, Yann Farell from St. Bonaventure, and Julien Soumaoro from Gardner-Webb) and two junior college players (Jayshayne Woodard from Indian River State College and Trevion LeBeaux from Indian Hills C.C.).
The Pirates have been conducting summer workouts under Coach Schwartz, who is entering his third season with the team. Schwartz has led the Pirates to records of 16-17 and 15-18 in his first two years.
ECU will return two forwards similar to Cason in height and playing style: sophomores Cyr Malonga and Callum Richard, though both saw limited action last season. Malonga is noted for his defensive skills and athletic potential, while Richard focuses more on back-to-the-basket play.
Additionally, the Pirates will return leading scorer RJ Felton, who averaged over 17 points per game last season, and former NC State and LSU guard Cam Hayes.
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