DRIVE Basketball :: Inside DRIVE : Brothers In Arms

(Pictured: Left to Right, Jordan Yu pushes the ball up the court for UBC while his bro takes the ball strong to the rack in league action for Duchess Park.)

"Brothers in Arms"

By: BCSportsFanatic

Date: February 28, 2006

When you think of Prince George Basketball, 2 names come to mind, Jordan and Nate. The brothers of the Yu family are paving their way into BC Basketball History as they lead their respective squads on Championship runs this March.

The elder Yu, Jordan or JY as he is often referred to, was a 2-time member of BC’s U17 Provincial team. As a Gr. 10 standout in 1999, Jordan led the O’Grady Catholic’s Varsity team to the Single A BC High School Provincial Title. As a senior for Duchess Park, Jordan led the Condors to the Final Four of the AA BC High School Championships and was selected as a first team all-star that year.

Jordan followed up his outstanding High School Basketball career by playing collegiate hoops for the Capilano College Blues before landing on the UBC Thunderbirds team where Jordan is currently the starting point guard. The Thunderbirds head into the CIS Playoff action this weekend as the nation’s #1 team with an undefeated record in league play. In the regular season, Jordan’s 2.75 steals per game led the Canada West division and was 2nd overall in the nation.

Nate is following in his brother’s footsteps with his selections on the U15 Provincial team in 2004 and the U16 Provincial team in 2005. Nate is widely regarded as one of the Province’s top guard prospects for the 2007 graduating year. Nate is the leading scorer of his Duchess Park Condors squad that is currently ranked #2 in Senior AA BC High School Basketball. The Condors have a regular season record of 37-1 in league and tournament play with their only loss coming in OT to the AAA MEI Eagles team. The Condors have qualified for the AA Provincial Championships in Kamloops this March.

Update:(03/05/06)

**Nathan and his Duchess Park teammates captured the 2006 AA Provincial Championship defeating Ladysmith in the Finals, 79-73. For Nathan's outstanding performance he was named the tournaments MVP.

Talkin’ Bball With the Yu’s

DRIVE: Nate, what do you think of Duchess Park's chances of winning the AA Championship this season?

Nate: This year has been an amazing year for our Duchess senior boy's high school team. We've been really successful in all of our tournaments and have come out with a lot of wins (37-1 a loss to MEI). The great thing about my team is that no one on our team was satisfied with our success during the regular season because we are so focused on provincials. Provincial championships have been the goal for us all season. Having said that I think our chances of winning the whole thing is good if we can remain focused and take one play at a time. Most of the players on my team are seniors and I don't see we will get too rattled when the game's starting to tighten up. Other teams have a lot of great players too, but I think overall we have a deeper bench than any other AA teams in the province. If we can control the tempo of the game I think the overall depth of our team will decide the outcome.

DRIVE: Do you have aspirations to play ball in college? If so where?

Nate: Being in grade 11 and knowing that I still have a lot to learn about the game next year. I have not given too much thought as to where I will fit in the best at the college level. Hopefully my game will continue to improve and I will be recruited to play at the CIS level. If I get the chance to continue where my brother Jordan has left off, that will be amazing.

DRIVE: Jordan, what do you think of UBC's bid to enter the NCAA Div1?

Jordan: If UBC is able to make it Div 1, I think it would be a huge step forward for Basketball in Canada. Instead of many of the talented players going down south to play, they now have an option of staying home and representing their country. Also, many players could now come up to Canada and play and raise the level of talent seen in Canada. I am sure it would spark some sort of new interest in the youth in Canada, and in 10-15 years down the road we would see a huge development in our national program and more players from Canada in the NBA.

DRIVE: How would you compare the level of competition of the CIS to NCAA Div1?

Jordan: I think the CIS is still pretty far behind when talking about level of competition. Div 1 has so many more athletic players and more structured programs. I was watching Duke play UNC the other day and what I really noticed was the defensive pressure, seen on both ends of the court. It’s just something not yet seen in the CIS. In terms of offensive talent, I think some players in the CIS can shoot just as well as top Div 1 players, but it comes down to being an athlete and getting your shot off against defensive players on such teams like Duke. So final answer, still pretty far behind.

DRIVE: Who has had the most influence on each of yours game?

Jordan: My Dad has had the most influence on my game. He was the one who taught me to push myself to work harder. I remember mornings in Prince George, being woken up at 6:30 am to go running in -30 degree weather during the winter. He always told me that there is someone out there working just as hard if not harder. So If I really wanted something I had to give it my all. I remember in Gr.8 I was cut from the U-15 Jamboree team. I went home crying and wanted to quit basketball. My Dad told me there was a U-16 Summer Games tryout the next week and told me to work hard for this one week and if I don’t make the U-16 team I could quit basketball. Sure enough I made the U-16 team and have been playing ever since.

Nate: My family has really had the most influence on my game. Jordan pushed me really hard even when I was little. I learn a lot from him, he taught me the value of working hard to improve. Also my dad has always been there to analyze my game. Even if I have a great game, he tells me where I can improve. He has taught me to never settle for anything.

DRIVE: Who are some of the best players each of you have played against? Nate, you first.

Nate: Some of the best players I have gotten the chance to play against have come from the UBC team. Of course one of the best players I have faced numerous times has been my older brother Jordan. He really pushes me to be the best basketball player I can be. I also got to play with Bryson Kool when my U15 provincial team played against Bryson's high school team. Bryson was just simply an amazing post player. I also had the chance to play a pick up game with Matt Rachar at UBC. He is a such a great shooter for a big guy.

Jordan: Off the top of my head, Steve Nash, Jamal Crawford, Darius Miles.

DRIVE: Jordan, do you have aspirations to play ball professionally?

Jordan: I would love to play ball professionally but always keep in mind that my days are numbered. If I don’t make it I am going to make sure that Nathan makes it.

DRIVE: What do you like best about your brother Nate's game?

Jordan: Well to start off with I am happy he is not a little midget like me. I love his lankiness and his handles. He reminds me of a mixture between Tracy McGrady and RIP Hamilton. Nate’s game is one of the smoothest I’ve ever seen, he’s able to cross you up, give you a jittery hesitation, blow by you with long strides, or shoot a pure jumper in your eye. He has the best all around game I’ve seen at the high-school level and I can’t wait to see him develop even more at the University level.

DRIVE: Nate, what do you like best about your brother Jordan's game?

Nate: Ever since I was a little boy playing basketball with Jordan, I really learned to protect the ball because he has such quick hands for stealing. Every time I get to see him play I always learn something on the defensive end from him. His quick feet and hands make him a threat to any guard. He has the best one man press I've ever seen. He has great vision on the basketball court. He can make reads better than most of the guards. He is also very clutch. He loves taking the big shots because he can handle pressure very well.

DRIVE: How has having a brother that has played at the next level helped you in your game, Nate?

Nate: The best thing about having Jordan playing at such a high level of basketball is that whatever I have achieved is not good enough. Everyone compares me to my brother and that is what drives me to be better. He also can tell me what I need to do to get to that level of basketball.

DRIVE: OK, now for a little sibling rivalry. You 2 are playing a little one-on-one against each other in the driveway. The Score is tied, it’s winner takes all, you have the ball. Give us a play-by-play of the winning basket. Jordan you go first.

Jordan: Well Nate likes to D me up pretty tight because of his height advantage and he knows I can get off a shot quickly. So I’d use a quick dribble at his high foot just to give me a little space. Still with the dribble I’d attack the same foot but give him an Iverson like cross over back into what would look like a cradle jumper. Nate would bite and try and block my shot but I’d still have my dribble. One dribble to a finger roll lay-up while Nate looks on from the free-throw line.

Nate: Hahaha if me and Jordan were to play one on one, winner takes all, I think I would have to work him using my post moves. I'm much taller than Jordan so I would rely on my height to beat him. A turn around Jumper would be the way I would like to end it.

DRIVE: Jordan, since you’re the oldest, I’ll let you have the last word. If there is one thing you would say to a young player looking to take their game to the next level, what would you say to them?

Jordan: Working harder to take your game to the next level means total dedication to the sport. Many players will work hard during the summer and than once season comes along will coast through thinking that their work has already paid off. Although they may have improved during the summer, there is still never a time where there is no need for improvement. The best players I have seen never seize to amaze me in their work habits and even when they make it to the next level they work even harder than before. If there is one thing I would say is always PUSH YOURSELF TO WORK HARDER.

DRIVE thanks Jordan and Nate for their time and wishes them luck in their Championship endeavors.

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