Chiles coach Scott Gowan had a hunch that Brandon Bassett would make a good pole vaulter.
But Gowan also knew that Brandon's older brother, Craig, had been a stellar pole vaulter on the Timberwolves' 2003 state championship team.
The Bassett family genes haven't disappointed.
"He picks things up pretty easily," Gowan said. "I remember back as a ninth-grader, I just selected that because it was the same event as his brother. I said to myself, 'I just hope he's as good as his brother,' and we've been pleased with the results."
Bassett will compete in the high jump, pole vault and triple jump today in the Class 3A track and field meet at Winter Park. He narrowly missed — by ¼ inch — qualifying for the long jump.
The senior, who hopes to attend the University of South Florida next year and be a pole-vaulter for the Bulls, said he has looked at the other top marks from around the state, but won't watch to see what they do today.
