Fans of University of Michigan Basketball Star Elliot Cadeau Want to Know If He's Deaf
Elliot suffered from an allergic reaction just before the NCAA Final Four Tournament.
Updated April 2 2026, 3:20 p.m. ET
Fans of the University of Michigan baller Elliot Cadeau want to know more about the rising basketball star. The NCAA player reportedly has vision and hearing issues, and folks want to know if he is deaf.
According to USA Today, Elliot transferred to the University of Michigan from the University of North Carolina in 2025 and has assisted the team in becoming "one of the best teams in the nation." His teammate Morez Johnson Jr. said of him, "Elliott runs the show."
Is Elliot Cadeau deaf?
Yes, Elliot is deaf in his right ear. The baller from New Jersey is partially deaf and also had surgery for a progressive eye disorder known as keratoconus when he was at the University of North Carolina. According to the Mayo Clinic, keratoconus is when the clear, dome-shaped front of the eye, called the cornea, gets thinner, steeper, and bulges outward into the shape of a cone, which causes blurred vision and sensitivity to light.
The Michigan Wolverine's sight and hearing issues apparently don't affect his skills on the basketball court, according to his teammate, Michigan guard Nimari Burnett
“I would say that he does an amazing job dissecting the offense,” said Nimari. “He makes it so much easier for us all around the court that played with him, just getting us easy shots. I'm just joyful to play with him every single game."
Michigan Wolvrine guard Roddy Gayle Jr. also gave a rave review of Elliot on the court.
“I think he’s really relatable in terms of where he’s from, what he’s been through,” he said. “He’s always a guy that you can rely on. I feel like most point guards have that trait, but really, he has been someone where if someone isn’t going right, I’m able to lean on him."
All about Elliot Cadeau's allergic reaction and whether or not he's getting drafted.
Elliot suffered from an allergic reaction on April 1, 2026, just before the NCAA Final Four Tournament, according to CBS Sports. he reportedly ate something, and sports reporter Tony Garcia of the Detroit Free Press shared the news on X.
The post was captioned, "Michigan PG Elliot Cadeau had an apparent allergic reaction as the team got ready to leave for the Final Four. He is expected to be ok and travel to Indy later today. Here is the complete statement from Michigan basketball spokesman Tom Wywrot."
"Before the team departed the Player Development Center today, Elliot alerted the medical staff that he may have had an allergic reaction to something that he ate," wrote the spokesperson. "The doctors evaluated Elliot, and he is fine. Out of an abundance of caution, he is receiving medical supervision and will be traveling to Indianapolis later today."
Many fans wondered if Elliot's basketball skills would earn him a spot in the next NBA draft, However, their hopes are for naught, as Elliot plans to play ball for the University of Michigan for the 2026-27 basketball season.