Cunningham's Maturity May Come From a 2-Year-Old Bundle of Joy

STILLWATER – Boy, another day in the NCAA bubble in Indianapolis and another award for Oklahoma State freshman sensation Cade Cunningham. On Tuesday morning it was the Associated Press making Cunningham that rare first-team All-American as a freshman. Cunningham was the Player of the Year and the Freshman of the Year all at the same time from the Big 12 coaches.

He is a “rock star” kind of figure. He’s bigger than even Marcus Smart was. Oklahoma State may have never seen anything like him as a freshman basketball player. My wife, and so many other Cowboy fans that watch him, marvel and are at the same time mystified how he seems so calm. His expression rarely changes. We know he’s having fun, but his facial displays look more like a nuclear physicist working through a problem.

Denny Medley

Cunningham is a do-it-all performer.

Oh, and those awards? Cunningham appreciates the recognition, but it’s not what pushes him to work hard and play his best.

“Thank you A.P. but I’ve got more important things that I’m thinking about,” Cunningham said of the honor coming his way on Tuesday in the form of the All-America selection.

Okay, the question begs just what does push Cunningham? The love of the game? He’s said that before. His teammates and the thrill of competition? Cunningham has signed off on those too, and he did so again in Tuesday’s Zoom conference from Indianapolis.

He also spoke of another motivation, one that hasn’t been discussed or written about much at all. The 6-8 passer, driver, defender, and shooter is also a father. He has a two-year-old daughter Riley.  

Twitter @CadeCunningham_

Riley Cunningham

“She’s like a bundle of happiness in a two-year-old body,” Cunningham says with that huge grin breaking out on his face. “There’s not enough words, that’s my daughter, she’s everything right now. She’s my motivation, all that and more.”

There was a time when schools would strongly discourage stories on student-athletes as parents. Teenage pregnancy was kind of a taboo topic. You know it didn’t exactly fit the stereotype image of the student-athlete. Those days, like many others when it comes to images, expectations, and stereotypes are over. The ones that aren’t are being battled by the student-athletes themselves.

When Cunningham hit campus there wasn’t much discussion about fatherhood and Riley. Talk centered on whether Cunningham would still play for the Cowboys despite the NCAA decision and punishment for the Lamont Evans situation. Then talk was all about how good Cunningham could be. Now it’s will he be the first pick in the NBA Draft.

Oklahoma State associate director of media relations Stephen Howard told me that Riley has been around a lot and it is obvious that Cade is an active father and that she is the “apple of his eye” like every daughter should be. She is cute as can be. Finally, a reporter, ESPN’s Holly Rowe asked Cade Cunningham about his daughter and he lit up. Huge smile on his face and the sometimes-stoic figure on a basketball court was full of expression, happy expression.

In the Tuesday Zoom from Indianapolis, The Oklahoman’s OSU beat writer Jacob Unruh asked about becoming a father.

Twitter @CadeCunningham_

Dad and daughter share some cereal.

“For anybody that is having their first child, that’s like scary,” Cunningham said of becoming a dad at an early age. “You know I was young. I was in high school and it was a bunch of different things. I just think flipping the switch and knowing I had to make this work in what ever I was pursuing for her. It changed the way I look at life for sure. Made me a little more mature and lock in a little more. I’m really excited right now for her.”

He should be because Riley’s daddy has a chance to be a real superstar in the NBA. Oklahoma State fans are hoping to see even more improvement here this week as Cunningham helps lead the Cowboys into March Madness starting with Liberty on Friday at 5:35 p.m.

“He’s still got room to grow, and I’ve always talked about it long term from what his NBA potential is,” Boynton started in talking about Cunningham’s potential to get better. “He has to get better, and I think he can get better Friday and if we are fortunate and win then I think he can get better Sunday. He embraces that mentality, and he watches as much video as anybody on our roster and he spends as much time in the gym as anybody on our team.”

Yes, being a father is a big part of Cunningham and has to be a factor in his maturity, leadership, and the number of expectations he puts on himself to help his teammates. He says the process of being that kind a player, being that “guy” started before he was a dad.

“I kind of always prepared myself for the spotlight because I always wanted to be that guy,” answered Cunningham. “I told my brother that the best way that I did that was kind of imitating what I thought that guy would look like in my head. Being the top guy and I did that in all kinds of situations whenever I faced adversity. I always told myself in those situations, ‘what would the top player in the world do?’”

Several times this season Cunningham has shown all of us what would do. How he would hit that game-winning shot or make that last second stop. Cunningham showing the way has helped other Cowboys be that guy too. His head coach believes Cunningham will be that guy when he graduates, very early graduation I might add, to the next level.

“I’m pretty sure we’re not going to see his best basketball until he learns to adjust to the NBA level,” Boynton said in finishing his belief on Cunningham. “I believe his ultimate future is as an NBA All-Star.”

One guarantee is he will have little Riley right there by his side.