Life is full of constant change. Everyone eventually reaches an age where they are required to make drastic, potentially major decisions that will ultimately impact their future for better or worse. Between the grassroots scene and high school landscape, kids are being pushed into making these life-altering decisions earlier than ever before. While it’s not necessarily a bad thing, it often compels kids to grow up much faster than their peers. Most kids don’t really want change, so the option to transfer and/or reclassify almost always stems from a recruitment standpoint. College coaches have been transparent about prioritizing the transfer market over high school prospects, which forms yet another obstacle for these young players. However, Jaylen Cross’ choice to transfer to Caldwell Academy and move to the Class of 2025 is making waves throughout North Carolina.
The last two years at Northwest Guilford allowed Cross to really discover and hone his foundation as a player. Sure, he’s been a standout performer since his elementary-school days, but his steady physical growth and on-court progression have allowed him to become a high-level prospect. As a freshman (during the shortened Covid-riddled season), Cross showcased a ton of ability within a veteran-laden rotation. Even amidst a slew of talented older players, he finished top-three on the team in every statistical measure.
In the following months, Cross began his ascension to stardom. He shined as an utterly dominant force with the North Carolina Rim Runners. No matter who they played, it seemed like no opponent was able to actually contain him. The team had other notable guys (like Drew Hollifield, Benny Limbacher, Nylan Battle, Kareem Osman, Conner Salyer, and Michael Juergens), but Cross was their undisputed leader on a game-to-game basis. He annihilated everyone in his path during March, and was snagged up by Team United before the start of April.
Folks don’t hear a lot of conversations behind closed doors and usually assume these kids are only looking out for themselves, but not Cross. Understanding the fact that he was joining a team with two of the top prospects in the region, Cross did not expect a ton of action or touches—instead was adamant about doing the little things, stating, “I’m locked in on defense; that’s my job. I have to bring the energy because not everybody wants to play defense.” Not only did he say this at the start of his new juncture, but he’s maintained the same unselfish, team-first mentality ever since. Cross ultimately wants to win. If taking less is what allows that to happen, then he’ll do less. If he needs to dominate the ball in order to have a fighting chance, then he is more than capable of leading the charge.
After a highly successful summer season, Cross shifted his attention back to the high school squad. They had solid success as a group, going 14-11 and ultimately falling to Mount Tabor in the second round of the playoffs. Individually, Cross boosted all of his averages across the board. Although there were still areas needing improvement, the general growth was easy to see. Even after a productive season, Cross emphasized training and working out at every possible opportunity. While many kids got to enjoy their summer, he was in the gym constantly fighting to get better.
The ensuing months of travel ball would be quite interesting for the guard prospect. Despite his constant production, Cross often found himself playing in a complementary role and finding chances whenever available. He never complained or showed dissatisfaction, rather just continued to do whatever necessary to help his team win. Cross epitomizes what it means to be a humble, mature, intelligent young man. He just so happens to be an incredibly talented basketball player on top of that.
In terms of his actual on-court identity, Cross is a long, athletic, 6-foot-4 guard with skill, toughness, and the ability to set the tone on both ends of the floor. He’s a quality rebounder and excellent defender with sharp instincts and understanding of how to consistently outwork opponents. Cross displays a smart, unselfish, high-motor approach to the game, and doesn’t require the ball to make an impact. He’s a capable creator, both for himself and others, and scores at a healthy rate from all levels. Cross has worked to develop his handle and consistency from beyond the arc, yet still recognizes his strength in attacking the basket and finishing through contact or with craftiness. He’s a dynamic player with the feel, skillset, mentality, and array of tools to continue blossoming into a special prospect.
Now, all signs point to Cross having a breakout season. When asked about his move, he stated, “Before last year started, I thought I wasn’t going to get looks [from college coaches], but I just made sure that I stayed on course and remained humble. Many people lose their humbleness when they get a little bit of fame, but I’ve made sure to stay level-headed and work hard every day.”
Most people actually don’t seem to know very much about Caldwell Academy. The Eagles have enjoyed a few winning seasons over the last decade, but they’ve also had eight coaches in that span. However, there should be a lot of optimism about Brandon Clifford and what he can do with a program. He just concluded his first year with Caldwell and led them to their first winning record since 2017-18. The Eagles had some useful players, but not enough guys to get over the hump. Add in Cross to their core grouping of James Swindell, Neal Swindell, Davis Raley, Ty Spohn, and Zackary Goodman (and Ayden Johnson), and there are plenty reasons to get excited about the upcoming year. The team will undoubtedly improve, and it should allow Cross to receive appropriate recruitment from Division I coaches (UNCG and Richmond expressed the most interest prior to reclassifying).