By ALEX ABATE ~ DAR Sports Writer

DONIPHAN -- Doniphan twin seniors Charles and Chandler Wilson have grown up doing everything together. Now they are each taking steps in different directions.

Charles Wilson recently signed his letter of intent to play at Williams Baptist while Chandler Wilson signed with Iowa Wesleyan.

It will be a different experience for both players being away from each other.

"Sooner or later, we would have to go our different ways but it is kind of tough," Chandler said. "Growing up with one another and playing basketball together since we were in third grade, it is going to be tough because I don't trust anybody more than my twin brother."

The twins have been wearing the Black & Gold together for their whole careers. Charles said Chandler has made him better over the course of their days as teammates.

"It is going to be tough not seeing him or playing with him because he has always motivated me on the floor and in practice and I have done the same with him," Charles said. "Not seeing him, I know that he will do good and that I will play my best and just remember that we will always have that connection."

The two sat down and discussed attending the same college but decided that each had to do what was in his best interest.

"I did like Iowa Wesleyan but I love the atmosphere down at Williams," Charles said. "They have one of the toughest conferences that I have seen and that is what I liked."

The twins often knew where each other was on the court during games because they played together for so long, Doniphan basketball coach Jason Andrews said. The Wilsons are the second set of twins Andrews has been around.

"They really had a connection and I think most of that was not a genetic thing but more of a thing where they have just played so much together when they were little that they knew where each other were," Andrews said.

Charles Wilson averaged 19.1 points per game over the course of his Doniphan career along with 10.3 rebounds. He hopes his solid high school foundation will translate to success as he moves to Williams Baptist. He could play a couple different positions.

"They will use me as a shooting guard," Charles Wilson said. "But, I will be playing a little bit post if a smaller guy would guard me or I will guard the bigger forward person because I am used to guarding the bigger person on opposite teams."

Charles can do many things on the court, an asset that should benefit Williams Baptist, Andrews said.

"He plays so much bigger than 6-1, it is not even funny," Andrews said. "For us, he played interior for us because we were really small but he can score inside and he is just so versatile."

Chandler averaged 11.8 points per game and 5.5 rebounds per contest. He will rely on a winning mindset as he travels to Iowa Wesleyan.

"We have always had a leadership role ever since we got into high school our freshman year," Chandler Wilson said. "We knew how to win and we had know other way of knowing something. We won games and we brought that to the floor every night of our games and I think if I just bring that positive attitude up to the college, I will help the team win."

Chandler may be asked to be more of a guard for Iowa Wesleyan, something he should be able to find a knack for, Andrews said.

"He has the ability to shoot the ball really well," Andrews said. "For an (incoming) freshman, he is really strong."

The twins became Doniphan icons over the course of their high school careers. As many positives that they displayed, there is still room for improvement.

"Both are going to have to increase in their speed and quickness, which they will," Andrews said. "They have got the tools to be as good as they want to be, it is just going to depend on how much they want it."

The spirit of the twins separated them from much of their competition over the years, Andrews said.

"They were so competitive and that is the thing that made them really good I think," Andrews said. "It don't matter what they are doing, they want to win."

The Wilsons were taught for four years as varsity players and as much as they have learned from coach Andrews about Xs and Os and the fundamentals of the game, they have made an impression on him along the way.

"They have not been spoonfed," Andrews said. "The biggest thing I probably learned from them is that you don't ever give up, no matter what the situation is."