All it is is 4 letters and a number, but so often that is a road block in the dreams of so many guys chasing the dream overseas. There are so many talented guys that played NCAA 2 that never were able to play overseas probably mostly because of the cliche that guys that come from there don’t have what it takes. Of course there have been many many guys that have not only been able to reach Europe and have a solid career, but even guys that have reached high levels. One of those guys has been Kameron Taylor who I love to use as an example of having gone from the NCAA 2 at Seton Hill all the way to the Euroleague with obstacles along the way. There are other talented guys like Taylor who have gone a similar path like Henri Wade-Chatman (188-G-1992, college: Edinboro), but are still climbing and climbing up the basketball ladder searching for the basketball peak in a high league. Wade-Chatman and Taylor battled many many times in the NCAA2 that they could of made an interesting head to head mix video. In his first season Wade-Chatman beat Taylor 77-54 as he held his own against him while another time he exploded for 32 points, but lost a heartbreaker 76-74 while another time won 99-88 scoring 20 points and holding his own again against the future Euroleague player. He will never forget those classy duels and has the utmost respect for him, and often guys like Kameron Taylor are the inspiration for guys to keep grinding, but for Wade-Chatman, it is actually someone else who is his inspiration to get to the top. ‘Kam is my guy I’m happy he’s getting the opportunities he’s getting he always has my support. I’m just waiting for my turn. I’m my own inspiration I know what I can do and bring to a team it’s all about opportunities and sometimes being lucky’, stressed Henri Wade-Chatman.

Miles Schmidt-Scheuber interviewing ex Seton Hill legend Kameron Taylor in Rhondorf Germany in 2017 when he was playing his second pro season with Pro B team Dragons Rhondorf

The guard who remembers ex NBA player Dejuan Blair being the toughest player that he ever faced was born on September 9th, 1992 in Pittsburgh. He began his basketball career at Brashear high school. His chip evolved at Community College of Allegheny County-Allegheny (NJCAA) where he was for one season. For most guys playing JUCO was the greatest experience, but at the same time the toughest, but for him the latter was actually different for him. ‘It wasn’t tough for me because CCAC was located in the city that I lived in so it was like a regular day, but those practices are the hardest I’ve ever had’, remembered Henri Wade-Chatman. He then made the jump to Edinboro (NCAA 2) where he played from 2013-2016 playing a total of 72 games. He was able to improve his scoring each season averaging 13.8ppg, 4.1rpg, 3.4apg, FGP: 39.7%, 3PT: 38.0%, FT: 62.0% as a freshman, 19.3ppg, 4.5rpg, 3.0apg, FGP: 39.1%, 3PT: 40.9%, FT: 71.9% in his second season and as a senior averaged 20.3ppg, 4.2rpg, 2.6apg, 1.8spg, FGP: 40.6%, 3PT: 36.8%, FT: 78.4%.As is so often the case, his game progressed through extreme hard work not hanging out at the local pool during the summers, but staying at school and dedicating his time to improving his craft. But head coach Pat Clearly and his coaching staff also were instrumental in guiding the high scoring guard the correct way during his three seasons there. ‘Coach Pat & coach Chris Bess gave me the freedom and the green light that most players didn’t have, but they also saw me work for it. I was in the game with coach Bess every day in the summer’, remembered Henri Wade-Chatman who remembers beating teammate William Marow in most 1-1 battles in practice, but also remembers him being the best defender that he ever went up against and made his life so much easier in games up to this day. His favorite moment at Edinboro was hitting the game winner against Cal U and in his last 2 seasons scored in double figures in 42 of 43 games had big games against Lock Haven with 32 points and his 32 points against Seton Hill.

The prolific scorer who lists Jaymon Mason Will Marrow Demetre Rivers Justin Baker and Greg Gantt as his 5 best teammates of all-time and came overseas in 2016 the same year Kameron Taylor did and played his first 2 professional seasons in Spain with Comercial Ulsa Ciudad de Valladolid (Spain-LEB Silver) averaging 15.5ppg, 3.0rpg, 2.6apg, 1.2spg, FGP: 41.7%, 3PT: 34.4%, FT: 71.9% and in his second season averaged 14.3ppg, 2.3rpg, 2.9apg, 1.2spg, FGP: 46.7%, 3PT: 33.8%, FT: 78.8%. The Silver is the third division in Spain and a very respectable league and also a perfect place for Americans to begin their professional career. Despite having to get used to the language barrier as well as a new culture and structure, that didn’t hinder his performance on the court. He was an instrumental part of helping his team move up from the third to second division called Gold what is like the first division in many other countries in terms of skill and competitive level. He didn’t have the greatest series against Lucentrum in the playoffs, but his game really took off against Moron where he had massive games including 23 points in the nailbiter 76-73 victory and had huge performances in games 2 and 4 scoring 28 and 22 points for the title against Zornotza. ‘I will never forget that the arena being sold out that’s the most people I’ve ever played in front of and to win it on our home floor was even better’, said Henri Wade-Chatman. Often winning that first title will produce not only life long memories, but also life long friends and that wasn’t any different with teammate from Britan Rowell Graham-Bell. ‘That’s my guy. We were roommates my first year, and I remember him dunking on a lot of guys. We for-sure are brothers for life’, warned Henri Wade-Chapman. In his 2 years in Spain he played 80 games and scored in double figures in 63 games. In his second season he played twice against FC Barcelon’s farm team and split scoring in double figures in both games and holding his own against future NBA players Luka Saminic and Rodions Kurucs. It’s no secret that all Americans overseas have a special self-confidence that is difficult to match. It was only logical that no one on the floor was better than him. ‘I always felt I was the best on the floor’, warned Henri Wade-Chatman. In his third professional season, he took on a new challenge and packed his bags for Latvia playing with Parnu Sadam (Latvia-LatEstBL) averaging 14.3ppg, 3.7rpg, 4.1apg, 1.1spg, FGP: 40.7%, 3PT: 35.1%, FT: 72.1%; and in the Estonian KML averaged games: 12.6ppg, 3.9rpg, Assists-4 (4.5apg), 1.0spg, FGP: 45.7%, 3PT: 29.7%, FT: 57.6%. Once again he showed his incredible consistency and being able to adapt well to 2 new leagues. He had some great games that season including firing up 31 points against top Estonian team Kalev-Cramo and ex NBA player Tony Wroten and also had 24 points against Rapala. He lost a tough 2 game playoff series against other top Latvian team BK Ventspils pouring in 28 points. ‘I feel like my game rises to the occasion when we play a superior team, at the moment I think they were a champions league team’, said Henri Wade-Chatman who believes the sequel to the classic Coming To America should never have been made as some classics are best left without one.

The ex Edinboro great who lists Michael Jordan, Lebron James, Kobe Bryant, and Allen Iverson on his personal NBA Mount Rushmore decided to go back to an old stomping ground for the 2019-2020 season in Spain and played with TAU Castello (Spain-LEB Gold) averaging 12.3ppg, 2.3rpg, 2.0apg, 1.1spg, FGP: 40.3%, 3PT: 39.4%, FT: 83.1%. He had a lot of success there winning his first chip and it wouldn’t surprise anyone if he returns back one day. ‘I loved playing in Spain. In Spain is where I first started playing point guard’, stated Henri Wade-Chatman. He had some outstanding games that season including scoring 29 points against Granada. He has always been a player that was never shy from trying a new challenge and did so again in the 20-21 season going to Slovakia to play with with Patrioti Levice (Slovakia-SBL) averaging 17.0ppg, 4.5rpg, 3.1apg, 1.2spg, FGP: 47.8%, 3PT: 35.2%, FT: 82.1%. He didn’t have a solid season, but an outstanding season. Once again he led his club into the playoffs, but couldn’t get the chip. He was instrumental in helping his team get past Inter Bratislavia and scoring 18 points in a do or die game, but lost a tough 4 games series to Nova Ves averaging 20,0ppg in the series, but losing 76-75 in the last game. ‘It will always leave a bitter taste the way it ended. We were always short of two important guys to our roster but we fought’, expressed Henri Wade-Chatman. He scored in double figures in 36 of 40 games in Slovakia including big games against Lucenic with 30 points and 27 points against Handlova. He came back to the team this season and will never forget his time there. ‘I will always remember the good bonds I have with my former teammates there. I took the opportunity to come to Cramo and it’s something I’ve always wanted to do’, stated Henri Wade-Chatman. Last he played with CSM Focsani 2007 (Romania-Liga Nationala) averaging 16.2ppg, 3.7rpg, 3.7apg, 1.2spg, FGP: 43.9%, 3PT: 35.0%, FT: 78.6%. It was another great statistical season for him, but a season to forget because the team didn’t win much. He did have huge games against Constanta and Steaua B scoring 27 points apiece.

After starting the season in Slovakia, the guard who believes Jordan is hands down the GOAT and always will be as nobody comes close to MJ and Kobe can be mentioned but nobody is greater than MJ is playing for Fiba Europe Cup team BC Kalev/Cramo Tallinn (Estonia-KML). He couldn’t be happier to finally have landed with this historic organization. ‘Since 2018 I wanted to play for this organization and now I have my opportunity. It’s a first class organization and very professional something I’ve been looking for for a while’, stressed Henri Wade-Chapman. Winning the Fiba Europe Cup title is currently a reach, but adding to his Spanish chip with the KML title is a huge possibility as currently the team is unbeaten at 7-0. He is still getting adjusted to his new role as he has only been with the team since December and is averaging 11,1 ppg, 3,0rpg, 1,7apg and 1,3spg while shooting a potent 44,0% from outside. The underrated passer who compares his game to NBA veteran Lou Williams has always been known as a scorer throughout his career and that is something that surely will continue, because that is what teams want him to do more. Perhaps he will receive that task down the road where he can show his playmaking skills. ‘I just play my role and most of the time that is to score the ball’, warned Henri Wade-Chatman. Three point shooting has been a constant work in progress as he did it once in his second season at Edinboro in 2014-2015, but it seems his current hard work in the lab is finally paying off. ‘To reach the 40% mark a big goal I think that will happen this year I’m shooting it at a very efficient percentage at the moment’, added Henri Wade-Chatman. The grind to get better will never cease for this talented ex D-2 player. 10 years ago he was at Community college and not dreaming of a professional career yet.’ I wouldn’t have believed anyone saying I would be playing professionally in 2023. The grind doesn’t stop, I had to work my way up the ladder since my first job in Europe. It’s a harder grind for us guys that came from a D2 school. I have a big chip on my shoulder and it grows every season for personal reasons’, warned Henri Wade-Chatman. You just have to love this guy’s love and will to achieve his goals. It will be interesting to see how he continues to develop in the next years and just how much farther he can go up the ladder. One thing is for sure when he and Kameron Taylor ever meet again in a professional game, then there may be brief small talk during pre game warm ups, but as soon as the clock starts, it will be a fierce battle again just like back in the day when fans were chanting their names during Seton Hill-Edinboro games

Tags : HENRI WADE-CHATMAN, BC KALEV/CRAMO TALLINN, GERMAN BASKETBALL