Chesapeake's Kyle Rase signs with Rio Grande.

[Focused]

May 21, 2008 @ 11:59 PM
By JASON McCLURE
The Herald-Dispatch
CHESAPEAKE, Ohio -- Talk about family minded.

Chesapeake High School's Kyle Rase was fortunate enough to have a strong family upbringing. And no matter where he goes, his family has literally been right by his side.

The principal at Chesapeake just happens to be his dad, Joe Rase, and his mom, Pam, is a teacher in Panther land as an education specialist.

Rase said his senior year flew by, but he made the most of it on the basketball court and in the classroom.

He signed Wednesday to play at the University of Rio Grande.

"I enjoyed every minute of high school, but I think its time move on to college," Rase said. "Athletes run deep in my family and it has always been a dream of mine to play college basketball."

Rase was a savvy guard for the Panthers (17-6) who distributed the ball and made everyone around him better. He also shined academically and he said he will finish fourth in his class with a 3.7 GPA.

He averaged about eight points a game as a senior.

The strongest area of his game, however, is playing smart, fundamentally sound basketball.

"I really wasn't looking to score much this season because I was surrounded by so much talent," Rase said. "But if the coaches gave me an assignment on defense or offense I made a point to get it done."

But, the story doesn't end there.

Instead of leaving his family to play the game he loves about 45 minutes from home, Rase will be joining his brother, P.J., who will be a junior next season on the Rio Grande team.

P.J. Rase produced a double-figure scoring average last season and will be declared as an Academic-All-American at the end of his sophomore year. Rio Grande coaches are hoping to have another Rase follow that path.

Rio Grande coach Ken French has been gobbling up local talent as though he were playing the video arcade game Pac-Man. Last week, French signed South Point's Corey Taylor.

"We want to bring in kids that know how to play and come from good high school programs like Kyle and Corey," French said. "I think we are blessed to be brining in two local kids from such strong families.

Rase played against Taylor several times and they have been keeping close contact and might possibly even be roommates in the fall. And of course big brother P.J. will be there to show him the ropes.

All through the signing ceremony in the Chesapeake library, Rase had the biggest, brightest smile on his face.

Rase said right now life can't get much better and he is so excited to play at Rio Grande that he might just jump out of his shoes.

[RiverRatRay]

Congrats to Kyle and his family.

[warrior0216]

Congrats to a good kid who DESERVES everything.

[conehead]

Way to go Kyle!

[Burg_Grad_77]

Couldn't happen to a nicer kid or a better family. I went to school with his father and I believe Joe still holds the scoring record for a single game at the Burg with 46 or 48 points.

Congrats to Kyle and good luck at Rio!! They definitely got them a great ballplayer.