He finally asked himself the same question.
It's been a long, strange trip for Chesmond and McDaniels, old friends and profiles in perseverance who have joined forces this season to push Camden County College to a 23-3 record and the No. 5 spot in the National Junior College Athletic Association Division III national rankings.
"These are guys that didn't give up on themselves," Camden County coach Lou Abbattista said. "You want to root for guys like that."
Chesmond is 27. He's 6-foot-6 and 170 pounds. His nickname is "Sticks."
Abbattista, who played at Haddon Heights and Philadelphia University and has been around the South Jersey-Philadelphia basketball scene for more than 30 years, said Chesmond is one of the best shooters he's ever seen.
"He doesn't miss," Abbattista said.
Chesmond, who graduated from Triton in 2003, averages a team-high 18.2 points. He's shooting 45 percent from three-point range. He's second in the nation in free-throw percentage at 90.1.
"I always knew I could play college ball," Chesmond said. "It was just a matter of finally deciding to do it."
McDaniels is 24. He's chiseled at 6-foot and nearly 200 pounds.
McDaniels, who graduated from Lenape in 2007, is averaging 14.1 points. He leads the team with 166 assists and 71 steals.
"It's really beyond belief to me that we're doing this," McDaniels said. "Every day I take a step back and say, 'Wow, I can't believe I have this opportunity.' "
After graduating from Lenape, McDaniels played a season for Burlington County College. He said the team was struggling for wins, and he was a disinterested student. Then his father went on disability and McDaniels dropped out of school to join the working world.
"My focus was on helping out at home," McDaniels said of juggling three jobs.
He also was playing in men's league and pickup games.
"People would always ask me, 'Who you play for? Why aren't you playing?' " McDaniels said.
