 Pierce withPrinceton in 2023 | |
| No. 3 – Princeton Tigers | |
|---|---|
| Position | Power forward |
| League | Ivy League |
| Personal information | |
| Listed height | 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) |
| Listed weight | 220 lb (100 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school | Glenbard West (Glen Ellyn, Illinois) |
| College | Princeton (2022–present) |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
Caden Spencer Pierce is an Americancollege basketball player for thePrinceton Tigers who was named the 2024Ivy League Player of the Year.
Pierce grew up inGlen Ellyn, Illinois and attendedGlenbard West High School.[1] He averaged 12.7 points, 5.3 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 3.2 steals, and 4.5 blocks per game as a senior as the Hilltoppers went 37–1 and won the Class 4A IHSA State Championship.[2] Pierce committed to playing college basketball forPrinceton over offers fromLoyola (Maryland) andSt. Thomas (Minnesota).[3] He also played golf at Glenbard West and was an All-West Suburban Conference as a junior and senior.[4]
Pierce entered his freshman season at Princeton as the Tigers' starting small forward.[5] He was named the Ivy League Rookie of the Year at the end of the season.[6] Pierce led the Tigers with eight rebounds in the team's 59–55 upset win over 2-seedArizona in the first round of the2023 NCAA tournament and made two free throws at the end of the game.[7] He scored nine points and grabbed 16 rebounds in Princeton's second round 78–63 win overMissouri.[8] As a freshman, Pierce averaged 8.2 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 1.2 assists per game and won theIvy League Rookie of the Year.
| GP | Games played | GS | Games started | MPG | Minutes per game |
| FG% | Field goal percentage | 3P% | 3-point field goal percentage | FT% | Free throw percentage |
| RPG | Rebounds per game | APG | Assists per game | SPG | Steals per game |
| BPG | Blocks per game | PPG | Points per game | Bold | Career high |
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022–23 | Princeton | 32 | 31 | 29.9 | .426 | .325 | .650 | 7.3 | 1.2 | .7 | .6 | 8.2 |
Both of Pierce's parents were athletes atNorthwestern University, with his father playing football and his mother playing volleyball.[9][10] His older brother,Alec Pierce, plays wide receiver in theNational Football League for theIndianapolis Colts.[11][12] Another brother, Justin, played college basketball atWilliam & Mary andNorth Carolina and currently plays professionally in Europe.[13][14]