Beaver – Having played basketball together all their lives, twin brothers Braden and Cole Chapman thought it would be cool to continue that trend.
So Tuesday they threw a fiesta and made it a reality.
The Shady Spring all-staters signed their National Letters of Intent to play college basketball at WVU Tech next year, surrounded by friends, family, teammates and coaches from the past present and future at El Mariachi in Beaver.
While the prospect of playing together sounded nice, it wasn’t the highest priority, but one that naturally manifested.
“We had talked about it and thought it would be really special to get to play with each other,” Braden said. “If we split paths, we’d still support each other but I think God blessed us to be able to come together and have a few more years together.”
“We were looking at it when we started talking about college,” Cole said. “For me personally if I could play with him I knew it’d be great. I know him, we have the connection and I know he’s a great player. If we had went separate ways we would’ve accepted it worked out that way. We weren’t looking to go to school together but if it worked out that way it’s great.”
That’s exactly how it worked out for the duo that ushered in an unprecedented era of success for Shady Spring.
Both were three-time all-state selections during their careers while Braden earned first-team captain honors as a junior and senior. Aside from personal accolades they led Shady to three consecutive Class AAA state championship games, winning it all as sophomores. Prior to their arrival Shady had made the state tournament only once in its existence.
“It’s been hard for me, as much as my team needs me next year, I still can’t turn the page on them,” Shady head coach Ronnie Olson said. “It’s an emotional night for me because I care so much about them and what they’ve helped create and build here. It’s a little bittersweet tonight. Seeing them in different colors, it’s what you want but also it sucks because you know they’re never going to play for you again.”
Olson, who played at Bluefield State, has no doubt the twins will find success at the next level.
“They’re far more superior players than I was,” Olson said. “But I know what it takes to play at that level and I think they’ll both play. I think Tech’s success is going to be built on them, I really do. Physically, Braden’s going to be able to defend those top guys in their conference. I know they’re immediately ready. I can look at a kid and say they’re going to play college basketball and those two are ready.”
Two of the top high school players in the state, the Chapmans had options but felt best about staying home.
“Just being young bucks, a few coaches came up to us and invited us to open gym,” Braden said. “They said they believed in us and showed it every day. We trusted the system they’re going to put us in and we just fell in love. It was kind of like love at first sight. It was about who wanted me. People say go where you’re wanted. Tech wanted us and they showed that. They came after us hard and it felt like a family. I think coming from Shady, it’s going to be the same thing.”
“It’s close and early on the coaches came and recruited Tommy (Williams) and Luke (Lerose) and they saw us,” Cole said. “We built a good relationship with them and it felt right for us.”
On the academic side the twins will split. Braden plans to study finance while Cole has whittled his options down to dentistry or engineering.
But before they arrive on campus, each wants to improve their respective games. That’s something they’ve routinely done, living in the gym since their middle school days. Still they’ve identified the specifics.
“I’m trying to get stronger and bigger to adapt to the physicality of college,” Cole said. “We’ve been working with them a little bit and that’s the biggest thing right now.”
Having always played together, the two have fond memories from their last chapter. For Cole there’s one in particular that stands out, making him happy their journey together will continue.
“That Greenbrier East game at home, just seeing him take over that game,” Cole said. “I was like, ‘Dang, I was proud to be his brother.’ I’m proud to be his brother always, but during that game, just to be able to see him do that was awesome.”
Email: tylerjackson@lootpress.com and follow on Twitter @tjack94
Shady Spring all-staters Braden and Cole Chapman signed to play at WVU Tech Tuesday at El Mariachi. pic.twitter.com/UEHg9fuFNd
— Tyler Jackson (@TJack94) April 4, 2023