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Kenny Chaffin is no different than any other high school athlete. He had dreams of playing college basketball at the Division I level. However, Chaffin is different from most high school athletes in that he has different priorities.
Chaffin, a 6-foot-5 senior from Marysville High School received a full-ride scholarship from NCAA Division I Western Michigan University when he committed to the Broncos during the early signing period.
But, even though he signed with Western Michigan, his heart still said Mount Vernon Nazarene College was the place that he wanted to be. After signing with the Broncos, he still made the trip from Marysville to watch the Cougars play this past season.
After thinking it over and talking to his parents, Chaffin did the unthinkable and changed his mind. He decided that he would be more comfortable at MVNC. He told Western Michigan that he would not be playing for the Broncos after all. Instead, he signed with the Cougars.
"I think that it is God's plan for me to go to Mount Vernon Nazarene College," said Chaffin. "Western Michigan showed a lot of interest in me early during my junior year of high school and I think that my eyes got big because they were a Division I school. There was a lot of pressure to attend a Division I school, but I kept praying about it and I know that MVNC is the place where I am supposed to be."
Mount Vernon is a school where I can keep God as my number one priority while getting an excellent education and playing basketball on an outstanding team," added Chaffin. "The players and Coach Flemming have made me feel at home. I can learn from some of the best players in Todd Sands and Adam Stevens."
The Cougars are getting a tremendous player who can play inside or on the perimeter. This past season, Chaffin led the Monarchs to an Ohio Capital Conference Capital Division championship as he averaged 22 points, nine rebounds, three assists, and three steals per game. He shot 60 percent from the field and 44 percent from three-point range. For his efforts, Chaffin was named the OCC and Central District Player of the Year and was a Division II First Team All-Ohio selection.
"Kenny will be a great fit at MVNC," said the Cougars' head coach Scott Flemming. His priorities in life will be encouraged and strengthened at a school like ours. I believe that is the very reason that he passed up opportunities at the Division I level."
"He has the potential to be an impact player in our program," added Flemming. "He is very strong and athletic for a high school senior. He has the ability to play on the low block or on the perimeter. He will be a welcomed addition to what I feel is a very strong recruiting class."
The Cougars are coming off their best season in school history where the compiled a 27-7 overall record and finished the season third in the final NAIA Division II national poll. MVNC also won its first-ever Mid-Ohio Conference title and advanced to the quarterfinals of the NAIA Division II national tournament.
Chaffin will add to what is already an outstanding nucleus as all five starters return. In fact, the Cougars had no seniors on their 1997-98 roster.
"After watching the team play last year, I became a big fan," Chaffin said. "The fan support that they get is incredible. As a player, that is a big motivational lift.
Chaffin said that his parents never pushed either way in his decision, but they are excited with the outcome because they will get to see him play on a regular basis. "My parents are really happy that I made this decision," said Chaffin. "They never really pushed me to go to either school, but I'm glad that they will have the chance to see me play every game."
Chaffin plans to play on the Cougars' summer league team, so he should be adjusted well when the season rolls around in November. "I'm really looking forward to next season," he said. "They had a great season last year and I really think that we will have a chance to make a run at the national championship."
