Some players get all the attention. Others quietly do whatever their team needs to win. To me, Chaz Briggs was one of the most underrated teammates I ever played with at WVU.
A native of Rochester, New York, Chaz brought toughness, athleticism, and versatility every time he stepped on the floor. I always believed he had more to offer than people got to see. Sometimes basketball is about opportunity as much as talent, and I never felt Chaz was given the chance to fully showcase everything he could do.
After leaving WVU, he proved he belonged at the professional level, building a career playing in numerous countries throughout Europe.
For this edition of WVU Brotherhood, we’re catching up with Chaz Briggs to talk about his journey from Rochester to Morgantown, his professional career overseas, and the lessons he’s learned along the way.
Q: Why did you choose West Virginia University over your other recruiting options?
A: Well, WVU wasn’t my first choice. I originally signed with Rhode Island, but they made a mistake with a class I needed to take in the summer. They had me take a science class when I actually needed a math class. WVU still honored the scholarship they had offered me, so I signed there. Honestly, I originally wanted to go to WVU because I wanted to play in the Big East. But during my visit, the coaching staff told me they were loyal to their upperclassmen. I didn’t want to come somewhere if I wasn’t going to have a real chance to start.
Q: What do you remember most about your first day on campus in Morgantown?
A: It was electric. I came in two days after school had already started. I was getting a tour, and there were people everywhere. It was a huge difference from the junior college I had attended. I remember going to the rec center, and all the students from Towers were in there watching us play. It was crazy.
Q: What was it like playing for Coach John Beilein, and what did you learn from him that still stays with you today?
A: Playing for Coach Beilein was hard for me because he was my fifth college coach in four years. Starting over every year, learning a different style of play, and adjusting to a new system got frustrating. Every time I got comfortable with a coach and their system, everything changed, and I had to adjust my game again. Every coach had a different idea of how I should play, so I never really got the chance to play the way I wanted. That said, I learned a lot from Coach Beilein. He was extremely detail-oriented and taught me how much the little things impact winning games. The one thing I wish had been different is that he would have been more upfront about how he saw me fitting into the team. He never gave me the impression that I wouldn’t be a starter or have a major role. I practiced with the first unit every day, started every exhibition game, played well, and then when the season started, everything changed without a conversation. We never talked about me playing center. If we had, I probably would have transferred. I averaged almost six points and five rebounds in just 11 minutes a game. I put in the work, and I honestly believe I could have been an All-Big East player if I had been given the opportunity. I also believe we would have had a better chance to make the NCAA Tournament if Yeager and I had played bigger roles. There were several games where I played well, got pulled, and we ended up losing. In every big win we had that season, I played well despite my limited minutes.
Q: Looking back, what do you think was the biggest strength of those WVU teams you were part of?
A: The 2001–02 team had a lot of talent and depth. I just think Coach didn’t know how to mix the veterans with the younger players. We started the season on fire, but I believe egos got in the way, and we started playing individual basketball instead of the team basketball we played early in the year when we had all those big wins. The 2002–03 team’s biggest strength was our shooting, along with the style of play. I think it caught a lot of Big East teams off guard because it was something they hadn’t really seen before. I also think the leap you took from year one to year two had the biggest impact on that team. It allowed the offense to be as effective as it was. If you don’t have the season you had, I think we would have been in real trouble. Pittsnogle also had a really good year, especially for a freshman in the Big East.
Q: I always felt you were one of the most underrated players on our team. Did you ever feel like you didn’t get the opportunity to fully showcase your game?
A: Definitely. I feel like I never got the chance to showcase my full skill set. I don’t think I really fit either coach’s style at the time. In junior college, I had much more freedom to handle the ball, push it in transition, and get us into our offense. I was able to create mismatches by playing inside and outside. That just wasn’t part of the plan at WVU.
Q: Who was the toughest player you faced during your college career?
A: I’d probably say Caron Butler or Carmelo Anthony, but I also have to throw Aaron McGhee in there. He was a grown man. I played against him twice in junior college, and then he was at Oklahoma while I was at WVU. Both Butler and Melo could do everything. They were strong, athletic, could handle the ball, and score inside and out.
Q: What’s one game at WVU that you’ll never forget, and why?
A: Beating Florida in Charleston. Nobody thought we had a chance. Everyone expected us to get blown out. Instead, we came out and punched them in the mouth. The building was electric, and I had four dunks that game. We knocked them out of the No. 1 spot and ruined ol’ boy’s homecoming game. Great times.
Q: What was your relationship like with your teammates, and are there any you still keep in touch with today?
A: I had great relationships with all my teammates both years. I still keep in touch with just about everyone. I played with Tyrone Sally for a season in Holland, and we still talk often about coaching and life. I was in Thailand with Chris Garnett. I used to hang out with D’Or Fischer in Belgium, and we still keep in touch. He’s coaching in China now. I’ve also done a few clinics with JD Collins. I played a season with Frank Young in Holland as well. I stay connected with most of the guys through social media or text. I’ve talked with Coach Beilein here and there, along with Coach Matt Brown. I used to meet up with Coach Cheeks every year at the Final Four until he passed away. Rest in peace to him. He was a great guy and the only coach who really tried to help me get into coaching. I still keep in touch with Coach Jones as well.
Q: After WVU, you built a professional career playing in several countries throughout Europe. What was that experience like, and which country was your favorite?
A: I had a great experience after WVU. I played professionally in eight different countries and competed in leagues across Europe, Asia, Australia, and the Middle East. I actually took a year off after I finished at WVU because I didn’t have an agent. I had to learn the overseas process on my own. I didn’t receive much help from our coaching staff, so I attended a few exposure camps and earned my opportunities that way. I won a championship in Turkey and won the King’s Cup in Thailand. My first season in Europe was in Holland, where I had a great year and helped lead my team to within one game of the finals. I played three seasons there, including one with Frank Young and another with Tyrone Sally. That was an awesome experience. I also played two seasons in Australia, two in Thailand, and one each in Mexico, Dubai, Luxembourg, and the Dominican Republic. If I had to pick a favorite, I’d say Turkey, but honestly, I enjoyed every stop. Not a lot of players get to experience what I did.
Q: What was the biggest adjustment from college basketball to playing professionally overseas?
A: The biggest adjustment was getting used to the travel call. That definitely took some time. Practice was also a lot different. Overseas, we usually practiced twice a day throughout the season. In the States, you might have two-a-days for the first week, and then that’s about it. When you’re the American, they expect you to be Superman. I was fortunate to play for teams where most people spoke English, and I played in countries that had good food, so that made the adjustment easier.
Q: What’s the biggest misconception people have about playing basketball overseas?
A: Real talk, everyone thinks it’s easy. People think they’re just going to go overseas, make a bunch of money, and put up big numbers. It doesn’t work like that. You’re part of a team. They don’t bring you over to be a gunner who doesn’t play defense. If that’s your mindset, you’ll be on the first thing smoking back home. They expect you to produce, but it’s a huge workload when you’re the American. As we see today, there’s talent all over the world. It’s nowhere near as easy as people think.
Q: Looking back on your career, is there anything you would have done differently?
A: I loved my time at WVU, but I probably would have transferred when the new coaching staff came in. The main reason I stayed was because of the relationship I had with you and Ty. I also didn’t want to have to sit out another year after the way my junior college career ended.
Q: What advice would you give today’s college players who dream of playing professionally, whether in the NBA or overseas?
A: I would tell them to respect the game and always stay humble and hungry. Basketball is one of the greatest tools you’ll ever have. If you do the right things, it can give you a great life. That basketball took me to places I had never even heard of. It gave me lifelong friendships, unforgettable memories, and opportunities I never imagined.
Q:When people hear the name Chaz Briggs years from now, what do you hope they remember most about you as both a player and a person?
A: I hope people remember me as someone who was always thoughtful of others, someone who worked hard for everything he earned, and someone who left it all on the floor every single time he played.