Family strength inspires Hason brothers
The twins were 10 when their father was killed in an automobile accident. Now 17 and seniors at Timber Creek High School, Jabree and Jubreel Hason both look back on that day in the same way: As the tragedy that continues to shape their outlook, sharpen their focus, and strengthen their resolve.
The twins were 10 when their father was killed in an automobile accident.
Now 17 and seniors at Timber Creek High School, Jabree and Jubreel Hason both look back on that day in the same way: As the tragedy that continues to shape their outlook, sharpen their focus, and strengthen their resolve.
"Not one day goes by when we don't think about it," Jubreel Hason said. "It left us with something to prove."
Despite obvious similarities in height, weight, and facial features - as well as athletic ability and uncanny academic success - the Hasons are not identical twins.
"Fraternal," Jabree Hason said. "But my mom thinks maybe the doctor made a mistake."
Rob Hinson sides with the boys' mother, Lukeshia Hason, on that. The Timber Creek football coach can't tell the twins apart, and one particular drill during the team's championship season last fall only added to his confusion.
"They come through the line and hit each other, and it was a stalemate," Hinson said. "They were locked. Neither gave an inch."
Hinson is an assistant track coach, too. He said there is hardly any separation between the twins over races that cover 200 meters and 400 meters.
"They'll run a 200 - 23.1 and 23.2 [seconds]," Hinson said. "Run the 400 - 53.4 and 53.3. There's just no separating them."
The resemblance continues in the classroom. Both twins have a 4.59 grade-point average weighted through advanced placement classes on a 4.0 scale. Both are ranked No. 2 in a senior class of 344.
At Timber Creek's signing day ceremony in the media center on Wednesday, the school feted football players Tyreek Williams (Rutgers) and Noah Ellison (Old Dominion), along with top athletes in baseball, soccer, and field hockey who also have committed to continuing their careers at the collegiate level.
The Hason twins were honored as well, as they have received full academic scholarships from Oberlin (Ohio) College and plan to play football for the program that launched the playing and coaching careers of John Heisman, namesake of the famous trophy.
"It's everything we were looking for," Jubreel Hason said of Oberlin, one of the country's most prestigious liberal arts colleges. "We wanted something at the Ivy League level."
Timber Creek vice principal Rob Milavsky announced during the ceremony that the Hasons' scholarships each were valued at $65,000 a year.
"That's $130,000 a year," Hinson said, shaking his head in wonder.
The twins, who each stand 5-foot-9 and weigh around 165 pounds, are shining stars at Timber Creek because of their diligent approach to every aspect of student life.
"Everybody in this school loves those kids," Hinson said. "They are amazing. They're so conscientious in their classwork, in everything they do - never miss a day in the weight room, never miss a lift, always giving it everything they've got."
The twins were key special-teams players as well as contributors on defense for Timber Creek's South Jersey Group 4 championship team, according to Hinson.
They have been playing football since they were 5 years old and plan to continue at Oberlin, which competes at the NCAA Division III level.
"We love football," Jabree Hason said. "We can't give that up."
They intend to major in economics, with an eye toward working on Wall Street.
The twins attribute their drive and focus to the example set by their mother, as well as the memory of their father, Abu Hason.
They both say that not a day goes by when they don't think of the man who inspired them to do their best in everything.
"The death of my father pushes me every day," Jabree Hason said.
His brother feels the same way.
"What happened with my father, it pushes me to do my best," Jubreel Hason said. "I want to make him proud."
@PhilAnastasia
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