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When recruiting Chase and Travis Hallam, head coach Joe Scott didn’t know the impact of having two brothers. But in the end, Scott got two players that he says are beneficial to his up-and-coming program for both their similarities and their differences.

“They’re their own distinct players,” said Scott. “Travis has his game which is very helping and not just about him. Chase is a little more dynamic; he is a guy who can do things individually.”

Scott can notice the differences in terms of basketball talent, but when asked to describe each brother using a single adjective, the similarities are a lot more blatant.

Travis is “tough,” while Chase is “bulldog,” according to Scott. The variation in meaning is small.

“Although it may be easier for [Chase] to score, his overwhelming character is similar to his brothers, which is to be a helper and do the hard things like going after every loose ball,” said Scott. “They compliment each other in that regard and other guys can then compliment them and it becomes contagious, because our players begin to believe that that it’s not about individuals.”

Travis, a junior, was recruited first by Scott in 2008, eschewing opportunities to play at Harvard, Yale and the Virginia Military Institute.

In the end, Travis said he chose DU because it best suited him and felt closest to home. In addition, he said Scott’s pitch had more of a family feel to it.

Then in 2009, Chase came to play for Scott and join his older brother.

“I didn’t play a big role in his recruitment,” said Travis. “I just told him what to expect of the school, the program and the coaches. In the end, mentoring him wasn’t hard, because Chase has a bullish attitude that allows him to take on everything that he’s got headfirst.”

Chase, a sophomore now, is coming off a freshman campaign where he finished third in the team in scoring and averaged over 30 minutes a game.

He turned down schools such as Miami (Ohio) to play for the Pioneers. Also, like his brother, Chase turned down an Ivy League opportunity to play at Columbia.

“What I admired about coach Scott was that he told me the truth,” said Chase. “He told me, ‘We want you here but we are not going to go our of our way because we want you to be fully into it and not half ass it.”‘

As they enter their second season at DU together, the brothers gain more and more experience playing around one another, which has had only positive affects so far.

“I know what he is going to do and when he is going to do it,” said Travis.

 

All in the family

 

The Hallams’ athletic history goes further back then just playing basketball in high school and college together.

The brothers have been playing football, soccer and baseball in addition to basketball since they were only four years old.

Athletics grew as a concentration in the Hallam household, which is located in Mesquite, Texas, over the years as the family took in six young men, five of whom went on to play either basketball or football at the collegiate level.

“I have seven brothers in total, including Chase,” said Travis. “Six of them were taken in by my parents over the years, but none were adopted, they all were old enough to have the choice to where they wanted to live.”

As Travis recalls all of his brothers’ names—Luke, Corey, Colin, Ryan, Lazerich and Jarron—he counts on his fingers to make sure he remembers all of them.

“All of them except Colin were on a team of ours at one point or another,” said Travis.

In addition to sharing the hardwood together, the Hallam brothers, eight in all, competed on the football gridiron and the baseball diamond.

Chase says he had several offers to play baseball at the collegiate level as utility player, but eschewed the chance because he preffered basketball.

According to both Chase and Travis, two of their brothers came to see them play together at Denver last season.

‘Backyard’ work ethic

 

With their unusual upbringing Chase and Travis were constantly involved in what Travis refers to as “the backyard brawls” or games of pickup basketball. It helped them develop a competitive sense that they still have today.

“When you’re in a house and you have people who are athletes then everybody is always being competitive,” said Chase. “Any time you try to beat somebody when they are trying their hardest, you are obviously playing your best so each time you are getting better at just gaining toughness and effort.”

The skills acquired off the competitive field and in the backyard have stuck for the Hallams just as much as any coaching advice they have ever received.

“I am not a person who’s been built on natural talent, so I believe anytime you put your mind to it and you really want to achieve it, then your work ethic will get you there,” said Chase.

His brother feels the same.

“Work ethic is everything, especially for a player like me,” said Travis. “Natural talent and hard work ethic can coexist, but work ethic is everything in Joe Scott’s system.”

 

Role reversal

 

Although most things have stayed the same over the years, such as the brother’s work ethic, there has been a bit of a role reversal since the pair has entered college, according to Travis.

“I was a better athlete earlier in our athletic career,” said Travis. “Chase has defiantly became the better athlete now though, but in high school he kind of lived in my shadow, which I know kept him motivated.”

At DU, Chase is now in the spotlight as he looks to start once again for the Pioneers, while Travis will provide vital minutes off the bench.

If it weren’t for Travis’ presence in his freshman year, Chase may not have developed as quickly as he did.

“He helped me learn the offense, which was the most difficult thing,” said Chase.

The two share a lot of time on the court, between practices when they are in season and regularly one-on-one meetings when they are not.

However, they do not want to smother each, so they aren’t too attached one another.

“They give each other space; they don’t hang around each other all time, so it’s a good balance,” said Scott. “They are their own individuals, but when things get hard and tough, which they do, they have that bond where they know they can count on each other, and I think that can spread to the team.”

The bond the brothers share has certainly spread to the team over the past two seasons, and Scott knows it can continue to grow and unite the players together.

“Having both Travis and Chase adds a different element, which is fun,” said junior Brian Stafford. “We have a great chemistry as a team, which affects the way we play on the court.”

When talking about the Hallams, Scott mentions the word “character” several times. He believes that each brother is the type of player that can build a program, where as they are doing right now at Denver.

The coach admits that if there was another brother he would consider recruiting him.

“If that guy was of the same makeup and of course we would give him a look,” said Scott. “We want tough guys and they fit that mold.”

As they enter the 2010-2011 season, Travis has two years remaining in his Pioneer career while Chase has three. Scott emphasizes that there is a lot of basketball left to be played in both of their careers.

“They have a huge say in how good DU basketball can be and what the reputation of this program will be when after they graduate,” said Scott. “They both know that there is lots of opportunity for them to help this program keep improving.”