HOLDEN — A two-way basketball player is defined as a player who can proficiently play both offense and defense. They are sometimes referred to as “double trouble” because of their role in handling the offensive pressure while simultaneously preventing the other team from scoring. Players lacking the kind of talent and tenaciousness necessary for this role need not apply.
One student-athlete with these attributes is Wachusett Regional High School’s Jake Chaisson, a guard on the squad’s varsity roster who is currently averaging 10.8 points per game. The 6-foot-1 Chaisson has risen through the ranks competing on various club and travel teams where, with some superior coaching, he has acquired the distinction of being a legit two-way player.
“I think it’s a big role being a good two-way player,” explained Chaisson. “You have to be in really good shape because you oppose teams’ best players 99 percent of the time. Having to be great on defense and then going down on the other end and be good offensively can be tough. But at the end of the day, that’s why I play. I love the challenge and love to play, so it really isn’t asking a lot.
“The younger guys really look to me and depend on that kind of assurance that I can take the pressure off of them defensively and still be able to be effective offensively. I think being a two-way player is one of the most valuable things in basketball, as you are able to help the team on both sides of the floor. And if you can play defense, you’ll always get minutes in the game somewhere.”
“Jake loves the game of basketball. He’s been our best defensive player and recently our best offensive player,” said veteran WRHS boys varsity head coach Tom Gibbons. “He’s a great kid, and a tough kid, too.”
Chaisson transferred his sports ambitions from football to basketball in his freshman year after sustaining serious injuries on the gridiron in seventh and eighth grades. His basketball stock rose rapidly, climbing the Wachusett ladder to the point where Gibbons named him a co-captain for the 2022-2023 campaign. His new role requires him to interface more than ever with the younger players on the team, offering advice and understanding of what goes into becoming an elite varsity player.
“Some kids respond better to a more encouraging tone. Others you need to get on them and tell them they have to do things better,” acknowledged Chaisson, who hails from Holden. “It really depends on the player, but we just keep on going to the next play.
“Pre-game, before we go up to the gym, I get nervous quite a bit. As soon as I get on the court, it just goes away and I’m just playing my game. I try not to have the crowd influence me, but when it’s a big game and you’re making all the plays, it does help with momentum. But if it’s not our game and we’re not doing as good as we should be, I just block it out and try to focus on the game.”
The team was off to a somewhat sluggish start this season, recording a record of 2-5 with both wins coming off of encounters with Shrewsbury High. The schedule doesn’t get any easier for this Mountaineer bunch, but Chaisson and teammates know that there is still time to turn the tide before post-season selections are made.
“We needed that one big win over Shrewsbury to get things going,” he said. “In the beginning of the season, I don’t think we were playing all together, but with the games coming, you’ll see that there’s better chemistry and flow of the game.”
Chaisson is currently exploring postgrad options but would like them to include basketball at some level. He hopes to major in business once his Wachusett days are behind him, but until then he’ll continue to enjoy the pride and intense competition of being a Mountaineer.
“It feels good to represent Wachusett,” he said. “I remember when I was younger, I’d go to the games and watch all the players compete, and I knew I couldn’t wait until that was me one day. I’m so glad to be here and so glad to get to play.”
