The Sock 'Em, Bust 'Em Board Because that's our custom

Chase Harler continues to impress

July 8, 2015 by Mike Casazza

The Wheeling Central basketball star has long been hanging up silly numbers and raking in awards, but he’s really gotten our attention and earned our approval in other arenas. I can’t describe how much I endorse this:

So he can ball, he’s studious and he has the best deliquency imaginable. It also seems he’s turning into one of WVU’s best off-campus assets. He’s an ambassador outside the border.

Brendan Ferns, if you don’t know, is a big-time 2016 recruit. Whether it’s Scout.com, Rivals.com, 247Sports.com or any other dotcom, Ferns is a four-star keeper who happens to be a Buckeye State linebacker. Those are good credentials. The industry suggests he’ll stay in the state and join The Ohio State (Edit: Nope!), but that’s not stopping Harler, who grew up as a baseball or basketball teammate with Ferns before they headed to different high schools.

Harler knows Ferns, feels like he knows WVU and believes that Ferns would like it. Harler knows the Mountaineers have a valuable chip to throw into the middle of the table: Michael Ferns. The older brother transferred from Michigan to WVU, thanks in large part to the Tony Gibson/Ron Crook combo that’s working on Brendan, with help from Harler.

“My junior year was the first time I’ve ever played AGAINST Brendan in anything. We’ve always been on the same team,” said Harler, whose basketball team won both games as he averaged 20 points a contest. Naturally, the two families met up before and after the games, and the two posed for pictures with each other.

Because of that bond, Harler says he’s made his pitch to Ferns to join him in Morgantown. As someone who is going through the recruiting process himself, though, he knows it’s important for Brendan to make his own decision.

“I tell him it’s a great situation for him; it’s close to home; his brother joined Mountaineer Nation; and I’m sure all the WVU football fans would love to have him,” said Harler.

If Harler does convince Ferns to join him in Morgantown, though, the two will likely need to find a third sport in which to compete.

“I’d win 11-0 [in basketball, one-on-one],” said Harler. “But in the Oklahoma [tackling] drill, I’d be in a full-body cast after going against him.”

It’s perfectly legal. The NCAA and WVU compliance can’t do anything about this. Wisely, Harler keeps leaning on his friend and applying 21st-century pressure.