"Shifty With a Purpose: Change of Speed, Three-Level Firepower and a Playmaker’s Touch"

Chase Harmon

@chase_ harmon15

5'8, Class of 2028

Clinton HS, KY

Chase has learned how to turn being a smaller guard into something that fuels the way he attacks the game, and his combination of shiftiness, pace, confidence, and skill continues to push his game forward. He can create separation with the ball, change speeds in a hurry, attack off the bounce, find his spots, and score at all three levels while keeping his eyes open for teammates. There's plenty of confidence in the way he handles the basketball, but There's also patience developing within his attack because he's learning when to strike, when to slow things down, and when the pass is the best play available.

That growth became easy to see throughout a strong summer that let Chase show just how much his offensive game has expanded. During summer school ball, he averaged 17 points, 5 assists, and 4 steals before following that with 18 points, 6 assists, and 3 steals during AAU play. The scoring jumps out immediately, but his ability to create offense for teammates and turn defense into another weapon made his production even stronger. Chase believes confidence played a major role because he stopped trying to force the action and started allowing the game to come to him, which helped him read defenders better and consistently find driving lanes.

His latest showing gave another glimpse into that progression as Chase seemed to become more dangerous with every game he played. He opened with 10 points, 5 steals and 4 assists, followed that with 12 points, 3 steals and 5 assists, then closed his third game with 15 points, 2 steals and 4 assists. Instead of simply looking for shots as the day moved along, Chase began figuring out how defenders wanted to play him, slowing things down mentally and making smarter decisions with the basketball. Once he recognized what was available, his shiftiness took over as he changed direction, found his spots, and created room in tight spaces.

That confidence didn't come overnight because last season gave Chase an early basketball education while playing on a senior-heavy team. As the only underclassman receiving consistent minutes, he averaged around 5 points while learning how to battle older competition and find ways to contribute within a veteran group. Helping his team win back-to-back district championships became one of his biggest achievements, while earning postseason minutes gave him valuable experience that followed him into his summer growth. Those moments helped Chase understand what winning basketball requires while also showing him where his game needed to improve.

He attacked those areas during the offseason with a purpose, putting serious work into his handles, shooting off the bounce, finishing, and reading what defenders were giving him. Instead of just running through drills, Chase wanted his workouts to translate directly into game situations, giving him answers when defenders cut off his first move or tried to take away his preferred path. Strength and explosiveness became another focus because he knew both could help him handle physical defenders, play with more speed, and become tougher to contain once he turned the corner.

Being a smaller guard has also created one of Chase’s biggest challenges because he's constantly had to show that size doesn't decide who can compete against bigger and older competition. He refused to use it as an excuse and instead poured that challenge into becoming quicker, stronger, smarter, and more skilled. Chase understands that he can't control his size, but preparation, energy, and development remain completely in his hands. That mindset shows in the way he uses quick changes of direction and different speeds to create space instead of trying to overpower defenders.

Much of that improvement has been built behind the scenes because Chase takes pride in the work nobody sees. Shots, ball handling, finishing, strength, work, and conditioning are important parts of his routine as he tries to sharpen something every day. He wants this upcoming season to become his breakout year, but his goals go beyond personal production because becoming a consistent impact player and helping his team win are major priorities. Chase also has college basketball in his sights, giving every workout another reason to matter as he continues chasing the highest level possible.

There is another side of his game that Chase believes deserves more attention because he doesn't need the basketball in his hands to leave his mark. He will defend, communicate, compete, and play hard while looking to make the right decision for his team. His defensive competitiveness fits naturally with his offensive creativity because both are driven by energy and confidence. When the ball does find his hands, Chase can quickly switch gears and turn a small opening into a scoring chance or an assist.

His calling card comes from creating separation and finding answers in tight spaces, where his handles and quickness become especially dangerous. Chase is comfortable changing speeds, snapping into another direction, and getting where he wants even when a defender knows the attack is coming. That shiftiness lets him create his own looks while forcing help defenders to make decisions, opening passing lanes for teammates when attention starts leaning his way. Add three-level scoring, court vision, and growing command with the basketball, and Chase has developed an attack that can hurt a defense in several different ways.

I assess that Chase brings a crafty offensive arsenal built on pace, change of direction, separation, and the ability to score from multiple spots on the floor. His biggest weapon may be how quickly he can turn movement into an advantage because defenders have to respect the drive while staying ready for his pull-up game and passing vision. His summer production showed much more than a scorer finding his rhythm, as the steals and assists highlighted a guard capable of creating havoc defensively while setting the table offensively. Continued strength development should make his attacking ability even harder to contain while helping him handle physical matchups.

The biggest sign of Chase's growth is how he sees the floor and understands what each possession is asking from him. He has gone from an underclassman learning beside a veteran group into a confident playmaker preparing to take on a much bigger role. His willingness to defend, communicate, and contribute without needing to dominate the basketball, while his creativity off the bounce adds a spark that can change possessions quickly. Chase has put himself in position for a breakout season, and the combination of fearless confidence, relentless work, and a shifty attack gives him plenty of fire heading into what comes next. Stay tuned.