Photo above: Caleb Florence is shown with head coach Joe Chatman, left, and assistant coach George Chatman. Patrick O’Connor photo
On Feb. 2, during a game against his school’s City League rival Boston English, Holland Tech senior guard Caleb Florence dribbled toward the hoop, cashed in a layup, and hustled back on defense. When the 17-year-old looked up, his entire team had joined him on the court.
“I’m running back, trying to get back on defense because I was too far from my spot,” he said. “I sprinted back, got to the spot, and then I saw everybody come out to the court, and I was like, ‘Is it a time out? Did somebody call a time out?’ One of the seniors, Dale, was like, ‘ You just hit a thousand!’ and I was like, ‘ I did? When did that happen?’”
To Holland Tech head coach Joe Chatman, that’s just the kind of kid and player Florence is. “He and I never had a conversation about it,” he said, “I kept track, but I never told him.”
For Florence, it was just another game, and then the cheers rang out. The 6-foot-3 Grove Hall resident has now surpassed 1,000 career City League points in just three seasons. After not playing his freshman year, he spent his sophomore and junior years at East Boston High before transferring to the Holland last fall.
Caleb, holding ball, with his Holland Tech teammates on Feb. 2. Patrick O’Connor photo
“He is probably one of the hardest-working kids I’ve ever coached,” said Chatman, who founded Team Spartans AAU and coached at the former Pine Manor College in Newton. “Since he’s been here, his work ethic has increased. I say that with all due fairness to some of the other coaches he’s had before me, but I think he’ll tell you, the demands of what I ask for are far greater than probably what he’s been used to.”
Florence agrees: “Not going to lie to you, he’s the best coach I’ve ever had,” he told The Reporter. “He’s the toughest coach I’ve had, but the best. He’s helped me realize different holes in my game I need to fill, that I’ve never noticed before.”
For all that, their time working together is far from over.
“We’re going to keep adding to this. I don’t think he’s done,” said Chatman, who, before becoming a coach, was a standout player at BC High and UMass Lowell. “I think we have plenty more games left, and, hopefully, those big games in the state tournament and the city tournament.”
On Feb. 6, the Bulldogs celebrated another big night for Florence and three of his teammates with their senior night game against the Brighton High Bengals. Wearing No. 12, Florence led the team to a 107 – 46 win with 19 points, 12 rebounds, and, as Chatman put it, “three monster dunks.”
With last week’s wins, the team is sitting at 13-3 record. Florence’s goals for the rest of the season are simple: “Graduate high school with a state title and city title.” After that? Pursuing his dreams of playing at the collegiate level.
“I hope he can fulfill his dreams,” said Chatman. “I told him when he came here that he’s had a lot of good individual success, [but] he’s never had the team’s success in high school that he has here.”
Caleb Florence and Joe Chatman, head boys’ basketball coach, on the court at Holland Tech in Dorchester during a practice last week. Cassidy McNeeley photo
He added: “There’s been such a growth in who he was in October and November, to who he is now, and I think that’s going to get better. I think he’s going to get better in the city tournament, and I think he’s going to get better in the state tournament. I just want him to continue to do the little things that great players do.”
Florence said that means keeping his head down and focusing on basketball. He advises younger athletes in the neighborhood to do the same.
“Just focus on what you want to achieve, don’t try to follow everybody else. Whatever you got going on, don’t let it dictate how you act toward others, don’t let it control you; it steers you off the path you’re trying to go.”
