By Tom Worgo
Glen Burnie senior Braeden Cavey gets a lot of satisfaction playing varsity basketball, soccer, and baseball for the Gophers. But Cavey has a particular affinity working with children. He's coached aspiring athletes at the Mike Rudd Summer Youth Basketball Camp and Elvaton Recreation Association soccer camp for the past three years, and reads to students at Glendale Elementary School.
“It's all about the kids,” says Cavey, a Severn resident. “It's heartwarming and humbling when you give back to the community. The kids look up to you. They want to be like you, and I love being able to help them.”
The 17-year-old Cavey also keeps busy with activities inside and outside of school. He works with senior citizens at Morningside House of Friendship, represents his school on the Student-Athlete Advisory Council, and serves as a leader on the Glen Burnie Blood Drive Team.
He studies a lot, too. He carries a 4.06 weighted grade point average and plans to be a physical therapist.
“I study seven days a week,” Cavey says. “I go to school, practice, and then do homework. I just repeat it every day. If you have a schedule you follow, it's easier to get through. I know it will help me in college, and help open my eyes more about my career and being successful.”
Glen Burnie Athletic Director Kyle Hines says he rarely sees student-athletes as driven and organized as Cavey. “He defines student-athlete,” Hines explains. “What he has been able to do in sports and off the field is impressive. He is someone you hope other kids are looking up to and follow his lead.”
Soccer is Cavey's best sport and the one he's received the most accolades in, but the 6-foot-4, 185-pound guard/forward wants to play basketball after high school. “I just love basketball,” Cavey says. “It's been a dream of mine to play college basketball.”
Cavey decided to focus on basketball more than his other sports in recent months, suiting up for an AAU team in the Severn Elite Basketball Organization in the spring and summer, as well as a Glen Burnie team made up of players from his school in the St. Paul's Summer League.
Cavey's strengths are his outside shooting and tenacious defense, and he averaged eight points and six rebounds as a junior. “He should be up along with everyone else in the county as a top-tier player this year,” Glen Burnie Boys Basketball Coach Mike Rudd says of a player who could be a team co-captain this winter. “He progressed at the end of last year, and he really worked on his game over the summer. We hope that carries over.”
On the soccer field, Cavey earned second-team All-County honors as a junior by leading the team in scoring with three goals and five assists from his midfield position. His numbers should only increase this fall.
“He is shooting to make first-team All-County this year,” says Cavey's father, Shannon, the Glen Burnie head boys soccer coach. “He was more of a defense-minded player last year. My plan this year is to use him as a forward and an attacking midfielder. He will have more scoring opportunities.”
Offense hasn't been a problem for Cavey in baseball. The shortstop and second baseman batted .350 as a sophomore and .282 as a junior. “He is a real good offensive player,” Glen Burnie Baseball Coach Brian Kellner says. “He bats at the top of the lineup most of the time—even as a sophomore. He definitely could play college baseball somewhere. When you are a sophomore and starting on three different varsity sports, I think it speaks to the type of athleticism and talent he has.”
