 Born in Brooklyn, New York, Chapman played basketball at Westinghouse High School.As a freshman in 1980–81, Chapman averaged 12.8 point per game (ppg) and 5.8 rebounds per game (rpg) as the Flyers posted an 18–11 record and advanced to the second round of the National Invitation Tournament (NIT).As a sophomore, Chapman increased those averages to 18.1 ppg and 8.0 rpg and was named the Flyers Most Valuable Player.