Kayden is taking the biggest leap of the transfer portal as she bets on herself for her senior year.

McDaniel can fill the void for the Cadets as a off the ball wing scorer from deep, a break you down off the dribble to her mid range game, or simply steal the show with counters then drop you off at the rim.

Look for Kayden to make noise early for St. John’s during their national schedule run.

ayden has been a superstar at Glenelg Country School, and Coach Jonathan Scribner now gains a proven perimeter scorer and playmaker. Playing in the WCAC may require some adjustment to the level of competition, but Kayden is no stranger to high-level talent, having competed against many of these players on the club circuit and at showcases.

The Cadets also get a two-for-one with the addition of her talented younger sister, Jordyn, a rising sophomore. The moves not only help solidify the Cadets’ position as one of the conference’s elite programs, but will also give plenty of fans their first opportunity to see the McDaniel sisters on one of the area’s biggest stages.

Kayden was smooth with her play, showing a level of confidence that made her look like she was a step ahead of everyone else on the floor. She scored from all three levels, finding gaps in the defense to unleash her mid-range shot, knocking down the three effortlessly, and getting to the basket for finishes. She also ran the point well, sharing the ball and consistently getting it to her teammates in position to score. Kayden never looked rushed and seemed to have a good feel for when to create for herself and when to get others involved. She finished with 16 points in an impressive all-around performance.

Kayden had a solid weekend of play and fought to the finish in Sundays game against the Germantown Lady Panthers falling just short of a comeback win. She is tough to handle one on one so the Panthers sent multiple defenders at her trying to force the ball out of her hands.

It’s kind of expected that Kayden will show up anywhere and ball out at this point, and that’s what she did. Although she scored a game high 19 points on an array of shots, I was most impressed by her ability to gather the outlet pass and push the tempo repeatedly. She either scored herself or dropped off a sweet pass to a teammate. Her pace was at a different level and most of the other players weren’t ready for it. She grabbed an MVP award for her performance.

Kayden’s game is tailor-made for a showcase setting, as she can do just about anything with the ball and thrives in moments where she can call for an iso. She’s a true three-level scorer with great court vision, making her a tough cover. Defensively, she applies full-court pressure with a wide base and active length, using her wingspan to disrupt opposing guards the entire length of the floor.

Kayden embraced the spotlight from the opening minutes, announcing her presence with her patented crossover into a side-step three. The move set the tone and immediately put the defense on notice.

A true multi-level scorer, she connected on five shots from beyond the arc while also attacking the rim for six additional points. Her ability to score off the bounce, from deep range, and at the basket made her a constant problem and a clear factor on the big stage.

With the entire defense geared to slow her down Kayden was still able to impact the game. She used some crafty ball handling and footwork to get loose and shake off multiple defenders on her way to 16 points against Milford Mill. She also came up with 6 steals to help her team.

Kayden is a must-see player in every sense of the word. Her ball handling skills and shooting range will keep you locked in. She’s also a great passer with good vision and she makes good decisions with the ball. Glenelg Country is in several showcase events so make sure you pull up to check her out. She has a strong chance to be this year’s Player of the Year.

We already knew what Kayden brings to the offensive end. She used this game to showcase her defensive intensity and playmaking ability. She played excellent on-ball defense, moving her feet well to stay in front of and consistently pressure the ball handler. Her anticipation and effort created several disruptions that led to transition opportunities. Offensively, she did a great job getting her teammates involved, delivering timely passes, and allowing others to find their rhythm. It was clear that she made a conscious effort to share the ball and elevate those around her, showing maturity and leadership in her decision-making.