Chadwick marries himself to Cougars

When Christmas comes along, David Chadwick could be buying his parents cases of coffee. They will need it because the 6-foot-8 forward from Charlotte (N.C.) Latin will be playing his basketball on the other side of the country and three time zones away.

Chadwick verbally committed to Washington State on Monday night. The three-star forward said his family has deep ties to Tony Bennett, dating back to his playing days with the Charlotte Hornets.

Chadwick's father, David, Sr., married Bennett and his wife Laurel when David, Jr. was just two years old, he said.

Chadwick said Bennett took a while to warm up to him with regards to recruiting despite the family connection.

"He heard from a lot of close friends that I'd be a guy that fits well into their system. He kept thinking about it, pondering it and had a chance to see me play in open gym and we gave him some tape and after talking to his staff, he was really, really impressed. He offered me," Chadwick said. "I thought about it and what got me was playing for a coach like coach Bennett will be great but he's also a great person."

Chadwick makes perfect sense in Washington State's offense and he believes he found the right fit that pairs his talents well.

"Coach Bennett kept telling me that he loves smart players that know how to play the game. I think that my skill level is what I really work hard on. With his style of play, you set picks and pick and pop and create a lot of motion," Chadwick said. "I think I can pass and shoot in that and then getting a chance to play with a lot of guys that know how to play basketball will be a lot of fun. That style of play will be something that helps me.

"There were a lot of times when I think I didn't really fit very well into a lot of high-major systems because of the up and down game but this is one that I can really fit well into. I think I can show my skills in it."

Chadwick said he also considered Valparaiso, Tulane, Rice, College of Charleston, George Mason and Ohio. Chadwick will visit Washington State on Tuesday, he said.