Your future, our focus
Two years ago, it was a big deal for Chris Boucher to be featured in the Northwest Trail. Now he’s been on the cover of Sports Illustrated.
The 6-foot-10 former junior college men’s basketball player of the year at Northwest College two seasons ago, was on the cover of the Nov. 7 issue of the national weekly sports magazine.
Boucher has helped make NCAA Division I University of Oregon one of the hottest teams in the nation. The Ducks are considered one of a handful of teams with legitimate aspirations to win a national title next spring.
During the 2014-15 season, with Boucher in the lineup, the Trappers posted one of their finest seasons ever, finishing 31-5. After capturing the Region IX crown, the Trappers reached the quarterfinals of the National Junior College Athletic Association championships.
Boucher was born on the island of Saint Lucia in the Caribbean, moved with his family to Montreal as an infant, but did not compete in organized basketball until he was 19. He spent one year at New Mexico Junior College before competing at Northwest.
The time spent at the Powell school changed Boucher’s life. He averaged 22.5 points, 11.8 rebounds and 4.7 blocked shots per game.
Many major college programs recruited him before he chose Oregon. The Ducks finished 31-7 and won the Pac-12 regular season and conference tournaments and reached the NCAA Elite Eight last year.
From a Wyoming perspective, the SI story includes one picture of Boucher in action in a Northwest uniform.
“What a great honor for him,” Trapper coach Brian Erickson said of Boucher’s cover appearance. “He deserves every bit of it.”
Erickson said he either speaks to Boucher on the phone or through texting once a month.
Erickson also tries to see Boucher play in person for Oregon a couple of times a season and watches whenever the Ducks are on national TV.
Just last Thursday, Oregon handled Valparaiso 76-54 on television. Boucher scored 25 points and gathered 9 rebounds and was the player singled out for a post-game interview.
When asked if he enjoyed watching highlights of his own play, Boucher said he watches the video to see what he can improve on.
Erickson, who said that is an indication of how humble Boucher is, said, “He has improved so much.”
That development has been so pronounced there seems to be no doubt Boucher will advance to the NBA and likely be a first-round draft pick.
“Yes,” Erickson said of envisioning Boucher at the top level of the sport. “First round? I think so. He’s going to end up somewhere.”
(Lew Freedman can be reached at lew@codyenterprise.com.)