Published August 10, 2008
By Jay Edwards
The Charlotte Observer
David Chadwick always has had a name to live up to. His father, who has the same name, played basketball for legendary coach Dean Smith at UNC Chapel Hill.
Now, with one more high school season remaining at Charlotte Latin, the younger David is trying to make a name for himself as a Division I college basketball prospect. The younger Chadwick says his father has been his teacher.
"Everything from being my rebounder when I go shoot hundreds of shots at the gym to teaching me moves to helping me understand the game. My dad has always been there," David says.
The Rev. Dr. David Chadwick, pastor at Forest Hill Church for the past 28 years, was the one to first notice his son's affinity for baskeball. He was there to watch his 2-year old repeatedly shoot rolled-up socks into a lamp-shad. He was there to observe that his toddler had nearly perfect form when his jumpers swished through a 5-foot toy goal. He was there when he saw the same boy, at age 11, fly in for a reverse layup in an Amateur Athletics Union tournament.
"I specifically remember certain things that David did early on that really made me see he had a special talent and interest for basketball," the elder Chadwick said. "I've always tried to teach him that basketball is a microcosm of life. You have to work hard if you want to be really good at anything."
The teenager must have listened.
He wasted no time as a 6-foot-7 freshman at Charlotte Latin, earning a spot in the starting lineup. In his first season, Chadwick average 12 points and eight rebounds in the same front court with former all-state forward and current Charlotte 49er Charles Dewhurst. Chadwick got even better as a sophomore as he put up nearly 19 points and 10 boards on his way to making all-state.
"David is really committed to being as good a basketball player as he can be," Charlotte Latin coach Lane Odom said.
Odom has been a college assistant coach at Alabama, Charlotte, East Carolina and Missouri. "I don't think I've ever seen a player work harder on his game. You almost have to kick him out of the gym."
Chadwick worked extra hard to get ready for his junior season. The 2007 campaign started strong as he put up 19 points, 10 rebounds a game.
Then, Chadwick severely sprained his ankle. He came back, only to break his wrist in a game against Country Day. The second injury put hime out for the season.
"It was hard to even watch the games at first, knowing that I couldn't do anything to help my team," Chadwick said.
He also was aware that the injury would slow interest from college recruiters.
Since April, Chadwick has played all over the region, from Morgantown, W. Va., to Nashville, Tenn., to Myrtle Beach. He also has been invited to the NBA's top 100 (college players) camp in Charlottesville, Va. His team, the Charlotte Royals, which also features Hopewell's Brandyn Curry and Christ School's Lakeem Jackson (a former Harding star), recently won the (N.C.) state AAU championship.
Now the college recruiters are back.
He has received offers from Charlotte, College of Charleston, Furman, James Madison, UNC Greensboro, Wofford and Valparaiso.
"Going through the recruiting process can be really stressful, because you know you can only pick one school for the next four years of your life. It can be hard to narrow it down," Chadwick said.
He has a 3.4 grade-point average at Latin.
Chadwick says he hopes to make his decision by November.
Chadwick said he has received a lot of advice from Dewhurst and ex-Latin and Georgia Tech star Anthony Morrow.
"I'm really focused on having a great senior season for Latin," he said.
Chadwick has accomplished a lot individually, but his Charlotte Latin team has never gone past the second round of the playoffs in his career. This year, with Chadwick and hte starting backcourt of Richard Brown and Ross Cockrell returning, he thinks the team can make a run at the state championship.
David's father played on teams that went for two ACC titles, one NIT championship, and one Final Four. He said he hopes his son can have similar winning experiences.
"Every (parent) wants their kids to win," the Rev. Chadwick said. "But I always tell David that the process is more than the results. You can only focus on and control what you need to do to get better."
To view the article online, go to www.charlotteobserver.com.