Tommy Tapley wasn't one of those parents who put a basketball into his son's hands at age 3 and commanded, "Start dribbling."
Tapley, who played basketball at Arkansas State in the mid to late 1970s, had witnessed fathers pushing their sons to the point that he knew of one boy who almost committed suicide because of the pressure to succeed.
"That's something I didn't want my kids to have to go through," Tommy said.
So it was Tommy's wife Alice who started their youngest son Chase in athletics.
There was soccer, baseball and football, all sports in which their precocious child excelled. There also was basketball.
That's the sport that Chase Tapley has taken to another level.
The 6-foot-3 senior guard averaged 22.2 points and 4.6 steals in leading Sacramento High School to a CIF Northern California Division III championship last season.
In doing so, he earned Bee Player of the Year honors and now has a full-ride scholarship to play next season at San Diego State.
Tapley signed his NCAA letter of intent during a Thursday morning ceremony in front of classmates, teammates, friends and family at the Oak Park charter school.
It was a proud moment for Mom and Dad, who have provided a guiding hand to their athletically gifted son since he first started kicking a soccer ball or tossing a baseball.
Chase acknowledged his parents' "overwhelming support" in a short speech and says that his father has been a great role model and a tremendous mentor.
"He never pushed me toward basketball," Chase said. "It just came easy for me and all the scoring and passing was fun. It wasn't until later that I learned my dad had played."
Tommy Tapley realized that his son might have special potential while watching Chase during an elementary school basketball tournament game at age 9.
"The place was packed, and it was noisy," Tommy said. "I think it was for a championship, the score was tied and Chase was taking the foul shot."
Chase sank the game winner.
"I asked Chase after, 'How'd you do that with all those people screaming?' He says, 'I like pressure.' Now, it always seems like he wants the ball in pressure situations."
That ability to succeed on the big stage is the primary reason Chase Tapley has developed into one of Northern California's top prep players.
"I don't know where that comes from," Chase said. "It's just natural. I love playing in front of big crowds. I like the screaming and yelling."
As Chase started to quickly develop, Tommy sought an unbiased source to evaluate his son's potential in good friend and former NBA star Sidney Moncrief. They grew up together, played together at Little Rock Hall High School and have been the best man at each other's weddings.
"When Sidney first saw Chase," he said, 'He's going to be a player.' When someone who has been successful at that level and knows the game tells you that, you know there is something to it."
Sac High coach Derek Swafford realized he had something special when Chase Tapley showed up from nearby Sutter Middle School.
He watched as Tapley contributed immediately as a freshman, rallied from a broken left leg as a sophomore, then led the Dragons to the state finals at Arco Arena last March. Though Sac High lost 72-55 to Santa Margarita, Tapley put on another show in scoring 35 points.
"To see a kid's dream come through and for him to overcome a huge setback is what it's all about as a coach," Swafford said. "I've watched him grow up. I'm just pleased that his family has given me the opportunity to coach him."
Sac High co-principal P.K. Diffenbaugh was quick to note that in addition to his basketball talent, Tapley was an "exceptional student" with perfect citizenship.
"I've watched him not only develop as a leader on the court but off the court, too," Diffenbaugh said.
Although San Diego State isn't as prestigious a college as UCLA, Cal or Stanford - the Cardinal was interested but not ready to make a scholarship offer - Tapley is happy with his choice.
Aztecs coach Steve Fisher stayed interested when others backed off after Tapley was injured.
Tommy Tapley said Fisher watched his son play "15 to 20 times" in high school and Amateur Athletic Union games. Tommy said Fisher visited the family "two or three" times and Tommy told his son about how the "Fab V" Fisher once coached at Michigan is one of college basketball's most historic teams.
"When Chase broke his leg, Steve was still there," Tommy said. "I told Chase you've got to consider that when making your choice, that you know he cares about you as a person, not just a basketball player."
Chase Tapley thinks he has made the right choice.
"I like their system, how they play, their high intensity man-on-man defense," Tapley said. "I feel if I work hard, I can contribute right away."
And as far as the pressure of being a freshman playing major college basketball, Tommy Tapley has no doubts these days about how his son will handle it.
"He's a special player," Tommy said. "He's been fun to watch. I even find myself sometimes saying, 'Wow. He's pretty good.'"
