Why Logan-Rogersville freshman Chase Branham has chance to be special in his coach's eyes
Of all the high school basketball coaches in southwest Missouri who know what "special" looks like, John Schaefer might be the one who knows it more than most.
Logan-Rogersville's head coach, who won a state championship at Hillcrest with the likes of Dorial Green-Beckham and Trey Starks, has had experience in coaching some of the elite athletes to come through the area.
His next special prospect might be on his roster. Freshman Chase Branham already appears to have the makings of a player who will be among the elite players in the Ozarks for the next four years.
"I know what special is," Schaefer said. "I don't know if you'd call him special yet but his work ethic is better than most. Special, to me, is 6-foot-6, running the floor, jumping out of the gym and doing things that can't be taught. He works to be that."
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Branham showed why he's been talked about in area basketball circles since he was a seventh-grader throughout the Wildcats' opening-round 71-45 win over Camdenton at Hammon Student Center.
The 6-foot-2 point guard played the game with ease with his smooth 3-point, excellent passing ability and command of the floor. When the Wildcats got off to a slow start against the Lakers, he scored 12 of his 23 points in the second quarter to help the Wildcats take a 26-point lead into halftime after trailing by one after the first quarter.
The hours Branham spends in a gym were evident for a 15-year-old who makes the high school game look easy.
"I just work," Branham said. "I love basketball. I love getting in the gym, I love shooting. It's just overall basketball and being around teammates and everything."
Branham attracted a Division I offer before he played a minute for his high school team. He's been a standout on his KC Run GMC summer league team on the Under Armour circuit and his play led to an offer from Austin Peay in late October.
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He's the younger brother of former Springfield Catholic standout Jake Branham, a two-time all-state selection who led the Fightin' Irish to a state runner-up finish his senior year. He played some college ball at Central Methodist before walking on at Missouri State for a year.
The younger Branham wouldn't confirm who is winning their games of one-on-one.
"I've always watched him growing up and going to all of his tournaments and games," Chase Branham said. "Really, I've looked up to him and am trying to follow his footsteps and maybe go up a little bit."
The freshman's journey to getting more attention out of high school started with his high school coach throwing him right into the fire.
Logan-Rogersville graduated the bulk of its roster from a Class 4 state quarterfinalist last season — including its starting point guard. Most of the players on the current roster don't have as much experience, having played behind those who led the Wildcats to a district championship.
Schaefer has found himself more patient with a first-year starter than he had been with those he had previously who had much more experience. In the first few weeks of the season, the Wildcats were wide-eyed and struggled but have since found more of a groove.
Branham has been at the center of Rogersville's early-season growth and it's what Schaefer expected from him since first watching him as a middle schooler.
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"He was, by far, the best eighth-grader last year and he was the main part who did all the scoring and things like that," Schaefer said. "That's pretty much what he's doing for us."
Branham has heard his hype since he was in middle school and he's not letting it get to him. He admits that it's an "amazing feeling" to already have a Division I offer but he's going to have to continue to work.
His head coach thinks he has the potential to reach the "special" tier that he's not one to easily hand out. Schaefer pointed out that cars and girls can change the outlook of what a high schooler finds important throughout their four years but he's confident that his young point guard will see a bigger picture and stay driven.
"If he puts the same work ethic in for the next three to four years, the sky's the limit," Schaefer said. "By the time I get done with him, he's gonna be able to play it at a Division I position."
Wyatt D. Wheeler is a reporter and columnist with the Springfield News-Leader. You can contact him at 417-371-6987, by email at wwheeler@news-leader.com or X at @WyattWheeler_NL. He's also the host of the weekly "Wyatt's World Podcast" on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and other podcasting platforms
This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Chase Branham: Logan-Rogersville 2027 point guard could be special
