Photo: Bowie HS
BY BRIAN GOSSET
Arlington Bowie HS celebrated the jersey retirement for former basketball star Cade Cunningham on Wednesday night. Cunningham spent two years at Bowie before going on to become the #1 overall draft pick by the Detroit Pistons in 2021.
During his freshman year at Bowie, Cunningham averaged 15 points, 6.5 rebounds and 3 assists per game. The Volunteers won 27 games and reached the regional finals – falling short against Keller 57-55.
Cunningham upped those averages during his sophomore year – 18.8 points, 8.2 rebounds and 5.3 assists per game. He was voted District MVP and TGCA All-Region.
After two years, Cunningham moved to Florida to play for Montverde Prep Academy, which became the #1 ranked team in the country. Montverde went 25-0 during his senior year.
Cunningham was selected as MaxPreps National Player Of The Year and McDonald’s All-American.
He went on to star at Oklahoma State and became Big 12 Player Of The Year and Big 12 Freshman Of The Year. He announced his entrance into the NBA Draft where the Pistons selected him #1 overall.
This is Cunningham’s fifth NBA season.
He helped Detroit to the playoffs last year. He averaged 25 points, 8.3 rebounds and 8.7 assists in six games.
Cunningham has averaged more than 22 points per game the past two seasons with a career high 26.1 in 2024-25. Currently, he ranks 11th in the NBA at 27 points per game and second with 9.2 assists.
Detroit is first in the Eastern Conference and second in the NBA with a 22-6 record.
