Your future, our focus
When the word reached Northwest College late last week that Chris Boucher had been named the National Junior College Athletic Association men’s basketball player of the year, people wondered if it was an April Fool’s prank.
“Oh, my god,” said the 6-foot- 10 center who already knew he had been named a first-team Al-lAmerican. “It will take me a week to realize it. I was surprised.”
Boucher, a sophomore from Quebec who is being recruited by many NCAA teams for next season now that his Trapper eligibility is up, had trouble digesting the news when coach Brian Erickson informed him.
“He said, ‘What are you talking about?’” Erickson recalled.
The achievement, a first for Northwest basketball since the program began about 60 years ago, didn’t catch Erickson off guard.
“I’ve said for the last month that he should be it,” Erickson said. “No one has his numbers.”
The long-armed Boucher, who can shoot 3-point jumpers like a guard and possesses remarkable agility, averaged 22.5 points per game for the 31-5 Trappers as they advanced to the NJCAA championships in Hutchinson, Kan., for the first time in 46 years.
Boucher shot 58 percent from the floor, grabbed 11.8 rebounds a game and 4.7 blocked shots per game. Boucher was eighth in the country in scoring, fifth in rebounding and third in blocks average, though his total of 159 blocks was tops in the land.
Northwest reached the quarterfinals of the national championships before losing by two points to the eventual titlist.
Boucher and star guard William “Nicky” Desilein both are from Quebec and are long-time friends. They transferred to Northwest together after playing one season of junior college ball in New Mexico. Their signature play, as Northwest won the Region IX title, was an alley-oop lob pass from Desilein that Boucher grabbed high above the rim and jammed.
Few opponents could cope with it.
Twice during the 2014-15 campaign Boucher recorded eye-opening triple doubles, one of 30 points, 18 rebounds and 10 blocks and the other 32 points, 12 rebounds and 11 blocks.
Besides being named to the NJCAA All-American team, Boucher earned firstteam Region IX honors and made the all-tournament team for Region IX and at the NJCAA event.
Desilein was chosen second-team All-Region IX and made the Region IX all-tournament team.
Boucher admitted during the weekend that he hasn’t yet processed all the recognition that’s poured in.
“It was a good year,” said Boucher, who was born in St. Lucia in the Caribbean. “I won everything I can win. It’s one of those years I will always remember.”
Erickson was as happy for Boucher as Boucher was for himself – especially with the player of the year award and other honors.
“He deserved it. Every bit of it,” Erickson said. “He put in a lot of work. It’s the first one ever in NWC history. Player of the Year means a great deal to all of us and the community.”
Boucher’s abilities caught the attention of so many Division I coaches it was difficult to keep track. Recruiters kept sending him text messages during the final weeks of the season. He read them, but did not reply, wishing to focus on Trapper team goals. Now the time has come to pay attention and figure out where he NWC (from page B-1) might play next season.
Erickson said Boucher has narrowed his choices to six schools, Wyoming, Texas Christian, Texas Tech, Oregon State, Washington State and Minnesota. Boucher has visited Texas Christian and was poised to decide which schools he wishes to make official visits to after cutting his semi-final consideration list from 15 schools.
Wyoming has been good to him during his year in the state and Cowboys coach Larry Shyatt made the trek from Laramie last week to pitch him. Boucher knows the Cowboys, who had their best season in years qualifying for the NCAA tournament, lose several seniors including center Larry Nance Jr., and seem to have a vacancy for a player like him.
Coaches are clamoring for his autograph on a letter of intent, but Boucher is taking his time.
“Everyone’s got their own place that is good for different reasons,” Boucher said. “I have to make the right decision because that’s where I am going to live for the next two years. For sure I am going to be one of the late ones (committing).
“But they are all good options.”
(Lew Freedman can be reached at lew@codyenterprise.com)