This is a printer-friendly version of an article from Zip06.com.
02/06/2024 11:14 AMAnyone can be a prolific scorer on the basketball court. Yet Jason Chapman is the ultimate gamer and strives for excellence–knowing it takes proficiency on the other end of the floor to become a player of the highest superlatives.
The East Haven senior and shooting guard stuck with basketball as his main athletic love, playing various levels of youth hoops, including AAU. Jason has given the Yellowjackets an extra punch in the backcourt, and has been a focal point of the program’s best campaign in two decades at 11-3.
“I love it when I make a shot, and I just love playing with my friends. I also like going out of my comfort zone out there, because it gives me good vibes,” says Jason. “I have gotten better with my shooting, but my defense has gotten a lot better. I am a smaller guy, and my defense was not at the high school level. I worked on my defense, because I knew my shot was good, but I know defense wins games. I learned how to read an offense better and I stopped cheating on a play.”
Jason explains he is quite particular when it comes to his advantageous shot selection. He loves firing treys from downtown, or if the look from long range isn’t there, he will bring it inside and pull up from mid range.
“I like shooting three pointers in the corner, and I also like taking the ball and shooting at the top of the key. Those are the places where I usually hit my shots,” Jason says. “I have that confidence of knowing that when I shoot in a specific spot, it is going in.”
The fast lane is one that Jason gravitates towards on the court while relishing in his casted part as the 2-guard. Still, he knows that with such a frenetic frenzy on the floor, each and every maneuver must be precise and perfectly timed.
“I like getting down the floor fast and playing at a fast pace. I know I just have to play my role,” says Jason. “Sometimes you have to know the exact second to run a play, or you could mess it up. It is an up and down game and position sometimes.”
The right crop of characters around a person can evoke an added wrinkle of their personality that was previously hidden beneath the surface. Jason reflects that a great collection of colleagues at East Haven this winter has helped him come out of his shell and be more gregarious with the group.
“At first when I got here, I was more quiet. But now as time has gone on, I have become more comfortable around guys now and I am more sociable,” Jason says. “I feel like we are playing more as a team. This is a good group to be around.”
When it comes to leading the charge as a final-year veteran, Jason enjoys the opportunity to influence and shape the offspring of the Yellowjackets once he departs the hardwood for the last time. He wants the younger guys to not only possess a vast repertoire of skills, but also respect the game and opponents.
“Being a senior leader on this team feels good,” says Jason. “A lot of the kids look up to me, and I am friends with them. I want them to follow in my footsteps. I also want them to show sportsmanship and be all-around players.”
In previous campaigns, rival SCC schools may have taken the Yellowjackets lightly and as a potential free pass to a victory. Jason remarks that is certainly no longer the case, as it has been a culture shift. Though it has been anything but a culture shock for the club, who knows the success is all indicative of cohesion and diligence.
“This group is coming. We were underdogs last year, and now we are changing the culture,” says Jason. “Before this year, no one used to take us seriously, but we are changing that now. We can really see the change taking place. Everyone on this team is here to work.”
East Haven Head Coach Frank Lyons details that Jason is simply the ultimate and selfless competitor, and will do whatever is requested of his coach and team to help them achieve new tiers of success.
“Jason, also known as ‘JC’, is a team first guy,” says Lyons. “He can start for many teams in our conference, including our own, but after a long discussion, he knew his offensive abilities could really help us with that second unit. He just wants to win. He shows up and works hard everyday with a great attitude. His energy is contagious, and he's a big reason why we're 11-3 this season.”
As East Haven begins to embark on what it envisions will be a lengthy postseason journey, the Yellowjackets will look to bring the bark and the bite. Jason is well aware that the team is on quite an historic run in the annals of Easties history, and so they want to conclude it with a tangible piece of glory to hang in the gym.
“For this year, our team should be remembered as a dog and a team that works hard, because people haven’t thought of us like that before,” says Jason. “We want to raise a championship banner here and make history. I feel we have the group to do just that.”