Hornecker Shoots Baskets On The Court, Pictures Off It
Evan Nemec
2/23/2026
When ACU junior Cade Hornecker isn't dunking a basketball or cheering on his teammates, you may find him out in nature with a camera in his hands.
What first started as taking pictures at Amarillo High football games has transformed into more than a passion that keeps Hornecker balanced.
“For me, it’s a good escape,” he said. “I like to do it. I like to slow down and appreciate things.”
It’s really been unbelievable. It’s been a great few years, on and off the court.
While the Wildcats play an aggressive, hounding style of defense, Hornecker enjoys how photography – particularly on 35mm film -- forces him to slow down and take in the world around him.
“It's different. You take a picture, you have to wait however long it takes you to finish the roll and then you mail it off to be developed. It’s way different than basketball. Basketball, you’re going hard, you’re going crazy. You’ve got to compete at everything. This is just something I enjoy doing on the side."
Hornecker is known to take his cameras with him when traveling, hoping to capture a moment in time which may not happen again.
Below are a few of his favorite pictures he's taken.
At ACU he has also been the photographer when recruits have visited campus, including current teammates Cbo Newton and Joseph Scott.
“That was fun. You get to meet the guys before they commit to the school. You’re trying to sell it a little more, help the coaches out.”
Hornecker signed to Southern Illinois out of his hometown of Amarillo. He spent his first two years of college at SIU, where he enjoyed the variety of scenery to shoot compared to the Texas Panhandle. But he played sparingly as a freshman, and then missed his entire sophomore season with an ankle injury.
He decided if he wanted to get closer to home, now was the time. So Hornecker hopped in the transfer portal and landed at ACU.
During the 2024-25 season he played in 30 games with the Wildcats. He's now up to being on the court for 16 minutes a game, and has started about half of ACU's contests, including each of the last five as of this past Saturday's 87-83 win over Southern Utah.
“It's been unbelievable,” said Hornecker of his time in Abilene. "Especially being in a Christ-center environment. Growing up I was in church, and I’ve been a Christian my whole life. I gave my life to God before I went into the sixth grade. I’ve grown up in the church and having somewhere that we focus on that daily – not only as a basketball program, but a whole school.
"We’re coming in having chapel once a week as a team, not talking about basketball at all but talking about pursuing our faith and putting God first in everything we do.
“It’s really been unbelievable. It’s been a great few years, on and off the court.”