New Franklin senior Caden Schlotzhauer signed his national letter of intent on Wednesday to continue his basketball career at William Woods University next season.

The six-foot senior averaged 19.4 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 2.6 assists per game this season while shooting 38.5 percent from 3-point range. Schlotzhauer reached the 1,000-career-point milestone on Feb. 6 when he scored a game-high 23 points, including the game-winning basket, in a 49-47 victory over Cairo on Homecoming.

Schlotzhauer earned first-team All-Conference, All-District, and Media All-District honors as he helped lead the Bulldogs to a 20-9 overall record, an 8-2 mark in the CAC, and the Class 2 District 8 championship.

Over his four-year career, he helped the Bulldogs achieve a record of 84 wins against 29 losses while racking up 1,168 points over four seasons. New Franklin finished with 20-plus wins in three of his four seasons, going 24-4 back-to-back in his freshman and sophomore seasons under the direction of his father, Jim Schlotzhauer.

William Woods finished the most recent season 8-20 overall and 5-15 in the Heart of America Athletic Conference. Owls head coach Andrew Green said landing the Mid-Missouri talent was a priority. A native of Marceline, he prioritizes good Mid-Missouri talent. “Caden certainly fits the bill. When a guy comes from a small school, a lot of times you’re wondering about the transition. Caden is a big guard, so size and athleticism won’t be as hard of a transition for him. Watching him with his team this year, he has a lot of fight and a lot of skill. We’re excited to have him at William Woods.”

Green described Schlotzhauer as a combo guard who can handle the ball and attack the rim.

“We really like to play in the paint with our guards, driving to the basket and playing at the rim,” Green said. “He has that quick first step and the athletic ability to get to the rim.”

Schlotzhauer said the fit with William Woods felt right from the start.

“I liked the distance, and it felt like home,” Schlotzhauer said. “I like how Coach Green is from Marceline, a small town. It makes him easier to relate to.”

He added that the Owls’ style of play mirrors what he experienced at New Franklin.

“It’s kind of like how we played,” Schlotzhauer said. “It’s what I’m used to. It’s what I’ve been playing for four years. It’s a lot of fun.”

New Franklin head coach Cory Nicholson credited Schlotzhauer for much of the Bulldogs’ success this season.

“Caden has a lot of offensive skill,” Nicholson said. “He helped us a lot when we would get stagnant and couldn’t get a basket. He’s a guy who can create his own shot and get to the rim. He brought that stability and the ability to always get to the rim and always made us very difficult to guard.”

Nicholson said William Woods is an ideal next step.

“It’s a good small school program,” Nicholson said. “They bring a lot of guys from the Mid-Missouri area. It’s a good chance for him to get stronger and keep getting better at basketball. I’m excited for him.”

Schlotzhauer plans to major in business at William Woods. He thanked his coaches, parents, grandparents, brother, and everyone who has supported him along the way.