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Rashad Chase was voted to the CAA all-Rookie team after he scored 176 points, grabbed 124 rebounds, blocked 12 shots, hit 11 three-point baskets and made 21 steals for the Panthers in their inaugural CAA season. He was named CAA Rookie of the Week on Dec. 12.

The freshman quickly gained attention when he had a double-double game in his third ever as a Panther with 14 points (6-of-11 FG) and 10 rebounds in the win over Louisiana-Lafayette. In game five at Philips Arena vs. then No. 15 Kentucky, Rashad Chase led a Panther 11-0 start and finished with a personal best 19 points (8-of-13), while adding five rebounds vs. the Wildcats.

Rashad Chase added double-figure games vs. William & Mary (15 points on 4-4 FG and 6-9 FT), at UNC Wilmington (12 points with 6-6 free throws), vs. Old Dominion (10 points), vs. VCU (10 points) and at Savannah State (10 points and 10 rebounds).

In rebounding, Rashad Chase had two double-figure games with 10 rebounds at Savannah State and 10 vs. Louisiana-Lafayette. He had eight rebounds and seven points in his first-ever game (the win over Delaware). He had seven rebounds vs. Georgia at the Gwinnett Center and six each vs. VCU and at UNC Wilmington.

Other personal bests included two three-point baskets in both the games at UNC Wilmington and at ODU. He had three steals at William & Mary as well as three blocked shots and three assists at William & Mary.

High School Review:

Rashad Chase was the Georgia AAAA (fourth largest of the five classifications) Player-of-the- Year in 2004-05 as he led Benjamin Mays High School to back-to-back state championships. He joins former Georgia State star Shernard Long as a former State of Georgia Player-of-the-Year to wear the Panther blue as Long had done so with Tucker High School in Class AAAA. As a senior at Georgia State, Long was honorable mention All-America on the 29-5 Panther team 0f 2000-01.

Rashad Chase, a muscular forward, was highly recruited by SEC schools (South Carolina and Tennessee), ACC schools (Florida State, Miami), the Big East (Georgetown), the Big 12 (Missouri) and a host of other major schools.

But, the Atlanta native wanted to stay in Atlanta and help grow the Georgia State program that made its biggest splash with a Final 32 appearance in 2001. “I want people to know and respect Georgia State,” Rashad Chase said in explaining his decision to stay in Atlanta. “I wanted to go to a place and make a name for myself and a name for that program. Georgia State should be the perfect place.”

“Rashad plays basketball coast-to-coast,” Coach Perry noted during his recruiting period. “He’s pretty tough defensively and a solid rebounder. He is one of the best freshman recruits we have had at State and his potential remains limited only by how hard he works to continue to improve at the major college level.”

Prep Career:

While being on the national recruiting radar since his freshman year in high school, Rashad Chase didn’t disappoint as he continued to develop and shine.

Rashad saved some of his best for last as he led his team to two consecutive state championships in being named the state’s most valuable player. In the state semi against Griffin, the Raiders of Mays High needed a fourth quarter rally and Rashad Chase was the one to lead. In a see-saw struggle, Rashad Chase took charge to finish with 24 points and 11 rebounds (15 second half points). Mays outscored Griffin 20-12 in the fourth quarter to win, 58-54, and advance to the championship game.

In the state championship game at the Gwinnett Center, Mays repeated as state champs in large part because of Rashad Chase’s 27 points and 13 rebounds. Mays finished 29-4 and became the first Atlanta city team to repeat as state champs since 1975-76 (West Fulton High).

Rashad Chase was a McDonald’s All-America nominee in February as one of 49 Georgians on that list.

Before his senior season started, Rashad Chase was listed as the No. 48 best player (at any position) in the nation by Scout. Com. South Gwinnett High’s Louis Williams was No. 1 overall and went straight to the NBA from high school. Mike Mercer of South Gwinnett (now at Georgia) was No. 2 in Georgia and No. 21 overall and Rashad Chase was No. 3 in Georgia and No. 48. Forward Octavius Spann (Georgetown) from Banneker was No. 4 from Georgia and No. 100 overall.

In pre-season, the Atlanta Journal Constitution named him one of “The Dandy Dozen” and said: “Recruiting analysts marvel over his athletic body. The 6-7 forward is one of the best rebounders in the group with his aggressive style.”

In the Arby’s Classic during Christmas Break (Dec. 27-31, 2004), Rashad Chase won top honors in the national event in Bristol, Tenn. With schools from Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, Mississippi, Virginia, Pennsylvania, Utah and Canada, it was Mays that won the tournament title and Rashad Chase that won Most Valuable Player honors. In the first tournament contest, Rashad Chase was on top of his game as he poured in 33 points and grabbed 20 rebounds (nine offensively) to lead a win over Dobyns-Bennett (Tenn.). Rashad posted a double-double in a win over Reston (Va.) South Lakes (Grant Hill’s alma mater). Then, he earned MVP honors in leading the team to a 55-53 win over Provo (Ut.) Timpview.

During his senior year, Rashad Chase obviously had plenty of notable games. He scored 29 points with nine boards in a win over Cedar Grove, upping that from the 22 points he scored on that same team earlier. In the Region 5-AAAA tournament, he had a 23-point game vs. South DeKalb and a 22-point, nine-rebound game vs. South Atlanta. Rashad produced a 22-point game vs. Woodland as well as a 21-point game vs. Cedar Grove.

Rashad Chase was picked for the Atlanta All-Star Classic, scoring 20 points for the West squad. He was chosen for the Georgia North-South All-Star Shootout. With the North team, Rashad Chase scored 12 points as Mike Mercer scored 21 and Octavius Spann had 10.

Scouting services had this to say of Rashad Chase in his November announcement to attend Georgia State. “Rashad Chase opted to be the big fish in the smaller pond,” said TheInsidersHoops.com ‘He’s a strong, rugged, yet skilled forward. He’s got himself a perimeter game and isn’t without talent in the paint.”

Rivals.com, who had Rashad Chase as the No. 139 player overall in the nation, said: “After looking at a number of programs in some of the top conferences and almost committing to Florida State, Rashad Chase chose Georgia State. The well-built senior said the opportunity to play right away and to play in front of his friends and family was too good to turn down. With a state championship and a solid summer behind him, the best basketball may still be to come.” Scout.com added that “Rashad Chase, a standout on the traveling team scene, could have played at a higher level. But, the Panthers worked their magic when they got him onto the campus.”

In the summers, Rashad Chase was busy getting better with the talented AAU teams from Georgia. He played for the Atlanta Celtics and Georgia Stars, teams loaded with NBA and college-bound players like Dwight Howard, Josh Smith and Louis Williams. Those teams traveled the country from Las Vegas, to Orlando, to Indiana, to California, in competing against top levels of competition.

Personal:

Rashad was born in Calvert County, Md., on Jan. 5, 1987 and moved with his family to Atlanta in 1996.

The only son of Chris and Sheena Ball, Rashad has two younger sisters, Christal and Chele. As an Atlantan, Rashad went to Sylvan Middle School and Benjamin E. Mays High School.

At Georgia State, Rashad is working towards a degree in psychology.