MONROE — The University of Wisconsin-Green Bay Phoenix added another player to its 2021-22 roster: Monroe senior forward Cade Meyer. 

“It’s a new coaching staff and I wanted to be a part of a program that is building,” said Meyer, who became the first scholarship recruit for new UW-Green Bay coach Will Ryan, son of former college coaching legend Bo Ryan, who took over the program in June. “It was important to me to go someplace where I can make something happen.”

Meyer, who stands 6-foot-8, had NCAA Division I scholarship offers from UW-Milwaukee, Holy Cross, Rice, South Dakota State, Stetson, Valparaiso and Western Illinois. He also had interest from Clemson and Marquette, among others.

Over the last two years with the Cheesemakers, Meyer has improved his game considerably. As a sophomore he averaged 11.2 points per game, but as a junior saw that number rise to 18.7 points and 8.5 rebounds per game. He’s currently 331 points from 1,000 in his career. He’s earned multiple all-conference awards and was honorable mention all-state last season as a junior.

Meyer said he came to the decision to pick UW-Green Bay nearly a week before he announced his choice on Aug. 19.

“Late last week I had talked to my parents and my AAU coach. Due to the pandemic, I thought it was best to make my decision now and then I can focus on preparing my game for UW-Green Bay,” he said.

Meyer’s older brother, Conner, is a business major at UW-Green Bay, and Cade said former Monroe teammate Kade King was planning on coming up to the school. While neither King nor Conner Meyer will be playing for the Phoenix, each are large-bodied, former high school hoops stars that beat Cade Meyer around on the playground.

“They are just as strong as the other kids on my team — probably stronger, actually. Even now at the park, they push me physically,” Cade Meyer said.

Also attending UW-Green Bay on scholarship next year is Cade’s cousin, Bailey Butler of Black Hawk.

“I’ve got a good relationship with Coach Ryan, and having my brother, and Kade King and Bailey there will be nice,” Cade said.

Meyer’s father, Craig, played collegiately at UW-Milwaukee and Loyola. Cade said his father stayed out of the decision-making process, but has been a helpful adviser during recruitment and planning for the future.

“My dad was really happy. He never really pushed me either way,” Cade said of making his decision. “He said it would be cool to come up to Green Bay whenever he wanted and see both of his kids.”

Cade plans on studying business at UW-Green Bay, and he said earning his degree is his main goal. His basketball career, he said, has a Plan A and a Plan B, as well as a few other fallback options.

“The NBA would be a dream, but I think just playing professionally in Europe would be awesome. My main goal is to get my degree, though, and plan for the future,” Cade said.

Before those plans can happen, however, Meyer just hopes to get back on the court with the Cheesemakers for another season. His AAU schedule with the Wisconsin Playground Club 17U has been hampered because of COVID-19, with games and tournaments against some of the nation’s top teams canceled. Instead, his AAU club has played mostly upper Midwest clubs. 

Should Monroe get a chance to hit the hardwood this winter, Meyer thinks he and his teammates have what it takes to “put Monroe on the map.”

“We’ve got the talent to go far with four starters coming back. We can make it to the state tournament,” Meyer said. “We just have to go hard as a team, game by game.”