When the 2021-22 school year started, all-state accolades were not exactly on the mind of Greenbrier West senior, Chase McClung.
They sure are now.
Playing his first year of high school football as a senior, McClung was named to the Class A second team as a utility player.
“After my first touchdown against Summers County, one of my teammates told me if I kept that up, I would make all-state. I laughed at him and told him there was no way I was getting all-state this year.” McClung said.
Last week the three-sport standout earned his second all-state selection when he was named the Class A second-team captain for basketball.
Prior to his senior season, McClung had long been noted for his effort and his willingness to do whatever he could to help his team be successful.
“Sophomore year I played more as a guard. My junior year, I had to transfer my entire game into the post,” McClung said. “I did all of the work that most people didn’t want to do like getting after loose balls, offensive rebounds and steals. I just tried to clean up all that stuff because we had a lot of scorers.”
With the Cavaliers returning a very inexperienced team, McClung had to go from “garbage man” to scorer and team leader for his final year in Charmco.
“Starting back in summer league, I knew I would have to score a lot. I went in with more of an offensive mind,” McClung said. “I started the scrimmages really slow. I had like two and seven points. I was trying to rush everything. I slowed it down and let the game come to me. From there, my teammates set me up and I could score.”
McClung was still the scrappy, high-energy player that he had been his whole career, but he became a nightly scoring threat also.
Averaging nearly 16 points per game, the versatile senior led his team back to the regional co-final game where they ran into the James Monroe juggernaut.
“We came into the season knowing we were young and would need a lot of guys to step up. All the young guys stepped up and we made it to regionals. At least we can say we lost to the state champs,” McClung said.
Thanks to his exploits on the hardwood this season, McClung received another special accolade last week when he was named to the Class AA/A C. Adam Toney Tires roster for the annual Scott Brown Classic being played this year at Shady Spring High School.
“Chase’s basketball career should be an inspiration to every young player out there,” Greenbrier West head coach Jared Robertson said. “To go from where he was as a freshman, by improving his ball handling and his shooting as much as he did, and to be the best 6-foot rebounder I have ever seen, is a testament to all of the hard work he put in.”
“He was so much fun to coach because of his total effort and all he worried about was the team,” Robertson went on to say. “For him to have honors like second-team all-state and being selected to the Scott Brown Classic is amazing. I love that kid and I will really miss him.”
McClung is excited to finally get a chance to play along side some of the players he battled over his entire career.
“Playing with all the guys that I have played against for so long, will be one of the best parts,” McClung said. “I saw Shad Sauvage, Kaden Smallwood and guys like that on the roster. Those were guys where we circled those games and really wanted to beat them. Now I will be passing to them and trying to score together.”
The Class AA/A C. Adam Toney all-stars will battle the Class AAA Mid-State Automotive all-stars at 4:30 p.m.
“You just want to prove that if you work hard enough that you can compete with anyone,” McClung said about the battle against the big schools Saturday.
Prior to the boys game, there will a girls all-star game held at 2:30 p.m. The girls skills competition will start at 2 p.m., while the boys skills competition will be held after the girls game.
