Putting others in a position to succeed is nothing new to Junior Chase Haltom. The basketball team’s starting point guard has deferred to teammates all season en route to leading the squad in assists. However, the deadly three-point shooter [38.8%] has found enough shots for himself to enter the week as the team’s third leading scorer [11.3 PPG].
Haltom’s strong play on both ends of the court has been a large factor in the team’s early season success. Entering Wednesday, the team was 8-6 overall, with a 3-3 record in NCAC play.
Going into this season, Haltom knew this team had the potential to be successful but realized players had to step up, “This team has the most potential out of any team since I’ve been here, but we lost three big seniors,” Haltom said. “We had a good core coming back and I knew this team could do big things.”
One of those big things was the way the team played in a road victory earlier in the season at conference power Wooster. “We played really well at Wooster,” Haltom said. “For us to be as successful as we can be, we are going to have to find out how to win on the road, and win on the road consistently. That is when you can see us go from a good team to a great team.”
That win at Wooster was not only a big game for the team as a whole, but also represented the 500th win in coach Mac Petty’s long and successful tenure atop of the Little Giant Program. “All of us players were really excited,” Haltom said. “It was a neat atmosphere and a good experience to be a part of a milestone win.”
Along with qualifying for the NCAA tournament, Haltom feels hosting the conference tournament later this year as the team’s main priority. “We feel like we can play with anybody and everybody in the conference,” Haltom said. “I believe we are one of the four frontrunners to be in position to win the conference at the end of the season.”
While Haltom’s play can be seen as unselfish, that characteristic doesn’t stop once he steps off the court. When he is not in the gym or studying, you can find Haltom assisting with a Wabash outreach program known as “Best Buddies.”
In the program, a student is paired with a “buddy” that has been diagnosed with an intellectual disability. This is Wabash’s second year as a member of the program, and the first in which participants are paired with a buddy. Haltom was given the heads up about the program by teammate Kyle Schroering.
Upon joining the program, Haltom was paired with his “buddy” Mark. “Mark and I have hung out several times; gone to a few football and basketball games,” Haltom said. “It has definitely been a great experience and has been rewarding for both of us.”
Haltom said the program is designed to build friendships for individuals diagnosed with intellectual disabilities while allowing them to go out and enjoy themselves in the community. The Best Buddies program is an International organization that has chapters in Middle schools, High schools, colleges, online, and in the workforce that combined will “positively impact more than 350,000 individuals this year.” It is also estimated that the services donated by “Best Buddy” volunteers give services that are valued at approximately $70 dollars annually.
Haltom’s contributions both on and off the court are substantial, and he will most certainly have an impact if the Little Giants are to achieve their goals of post season successes.
The only question is: the next time you hear “PULL IT” from a Sphinx Club member during a game, will Haltom take the shot or look for an open teammate as he has done so successfully.