Marquette commit Chase Ross takes the next step in his basketball journey
ASHBURNHAM, Mass. (BVM) — When Shaka Smart took over the Marquette program back in March, the incoming coaching staff made it a priority to keep tabs on Cushing Academy鈥檚 Chase Ross.
鈥淚 actually started talking to them while they were at Texas,鈥� Ross said of his relationship with the Golden Eagles coaching staff. 鈥淲hen they got the job at Marquette, I talked to them maybe the second week after they got the job — and they came and watched me during the summer. That’s when it grew from there.鈥�
The connection between Ross and the Marquette coaching staff first started after Cushing Academy鈥檚 head coach James Cormier shared his belief in Ross with then Texas assistant, Cody Hatt. Ross had just recently moved to the school and was looking for a different opportunity to showcase his skillset on the court.
Following the initial link between the Texas native and the Longhorns program, Smart and his coaching staff would continue to heavily recruit the Cushing Academy guard. After constant contact and a budding relationship with the coaching staff, it would become an easy decision to .
鈥淚 just felt like [Marquette] was the best fit for me, play-style wise and also like family [wise],鈥� Ross said. 鈥淭he coaches were all family oriented and I didn鈥檛 get that feel from any other schools that were recruiting me. That was one of the few schools that stayed in touch with me everyday.鈥�
The 6-foot-4, athletic lefty, seems to be a perfect fit for Smart鈥檚 鈥淗avoc鈥� style of play. Lead by players with similar athletic abilities, Ross sees himself fitting right in with the defensive and transition-based mindset that the program offers.聽
鈥淚 think I would describe myself as a 3-and-D guy,鈥� Ross said of his play-style. 鈥淚 can play inside out, I can shoot the ball from the three, and I can also get to the paint. On the other end, I can also come down and play defense on the best offensive player on the other team. I feel like I can do it all.鈥�
The senior guard will look to do it all in his final season at Cushing Academy after getting some early run with his teammates this past June. After playing his first three high school seasons at Plano West High School, Ross was ready for the next step up after his Wolves鈥� team graduated many of the experienced seniors he had played with early on.聽
The chance at a higher level of competition will come this upcoming season as he prepares for life in the Big East, where there’s bigger, stronger players. After competing in the New England Preparatory School Athletic Council (NEPSAC) event in June, Ross likes where the team is at and has already seen growth in his game since first arriving.
鈥淗ere, I think I’ve just grown with my pace and knowing to make the right reads,鈥� Ross said of his progression so far. 鈥淎lso, getting open and getting [other] players open. Even creating shots for myself or others. So, I think I鈥檝e gotten better at that here.鈥�
Along with growing his game at Cushing, the future Marquette guard is looking forward to building a relationship with his new teammates, like the one he has with his Drive Nation AAU squad. The Drive Nation team which features Vince Iwuchukwu (USC), TJ Caldwell (Ole Miss), Jordan Walsh (Arkansas) and Jourdyn Grandberry (Texas A&M Corpus Christi), gave Ross a chance to play alongside players with a similar goal on the court.聽
He took part with the Drive Nation team this past summer and has built a connection that will last into the future.
鈥淲e all talk,鈥� Ross said of his Drive Nation teammates. 鈥淲e chat almost every other day [if not] everyday. [We] talk about stuff, maybe trash talk here or there about the schools we are going to, saying we鈥檙e going to beat them next year. It鈥檚 friendly, we鈥檙e all cool. It actually has helped me to play with those high level players because it makes me better, that step up.鈥�
With the season just weeks away, Ross has a couple of goals he鈥檚 looking to hit on before he makes the jump to the collegiate level. Along with what should be a competitive season for the newest NEPSAC player, Ross won鈥檛 be skipping steps as he aims for improvement throughout the year.聽
鈥淭his year would be great if I could get a NEPSAC championship, of course, and a NEPSAC MVP,鈥� Ross said. 鈥淭hose are my two biggest goals right now, but most importantly, just stick together with my team and keep getting better and working towards that goal.鈥�
