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EARLY INDICATIONS 
When Chase was just a child, his parents expected him to become a great athlete. His mother, Marsha, recalls moments when Chase and his brother would make up IU/Purdue shirts and play one on one.
She also remembers him playing much of the time against the older boys, and usually winning. Marsha and Greg, Chase’s step-dad, remember his coach saying “that kid is a man” and he was only in the fifth grade.
Chase’s dad, Chuck, remembers countless hours of basketball being played in an old farm house he used to rent. “We’d put up miniature goals at each end of a room and it was not uncommon for those boys to play 12 hours of ball in a single day.”
ANGOLA HIGH SCHOOL
He also says that Chase always wanted to help with things around the house. “He was never a kid that wanted to just sit around and watch TV or play video games”. In fact, from eighth grade through his senior year in High School, Chase had his own lawn mowing business – and hard work paid off in his basketball career, as well.
Chase continued to grow and improve and get stronger. He developed into a fine basketball player at Angola High School, averaging over 18 points and 10 rebounds a game. He was named to the All-NCC Team for three straight years.
THE HUNTINGTON EXPERIENCE
When Chase was a freshman, I remember seeing him play and saying, “Wow, a great athlete with a great sense of the game.” While averaging over 10 points a game in his first 2 years at Huntington, he continued to learn the game and what it takes to make a team successful.
His dad, Chuck, says, “Chase has always been about winning and was happy to do whatever the team needed to win”. Chase exemplified that over his last two years as a Forester, taking his game and leadership to another level.
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With the additions of Alex Kock and Doug Sheckler to the roster his junior year, Chase took on a new role. Not because he had to, but because he wanted to for the good of the team. Instead of scoring 10 points a night, he became the team leader, energizing the defense and getting tough rebounds against taller players.
All of us who have watched HU basketball over the last several years know and understand how important it is to play your particular role, and Chase has played his role perfectly. Even with his responsibilities on the team changing over the last two seasons, he managed to score 1,211 points in a four year career.
NAIA NATIONAL TOURNAMENTS
The leadership he and his senior teammate Steve Snider displayed this year was not only outstanding but it was vital in their run to the NAIA National Championship game.
“This run in the Tournament will be the most memorable,” said Chase. “Although, I believe that game versus Northwestern in the 2004 NAIA National Tournament comes in as a close second.”
These classy seniors not only went to the National tournament this year but have gone each of the past four years; the first time that any HU basketball player has gone to the NAIA National Tournament all four years. Verba attributes the team’s success to being a real team in every way.
PERSONAL ACHIEVEMENTS
Chase will carry many memories of his experiences at HU with him throughout life. He speaks of making great friends both on and off the team and beneficial interactions with both students and faculty at HU.
He speaks well of many great professors that proved HU to be great place to learn. Chase said, “Professors like Dave McEowen are not only great teachers but are great mentors and friends.” Chase will graduate with a degree in Business Management and a minor in Economics.
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Chase Verba
Chase Verba
Chase Verba
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