DRIVE Basketball :: Retro MVP

Retro MVP: Randy Nohr

Randy Nohr has been a fixture on the local BC hoop scene for the past 10 years. He has one of the most impressive track records in the history of B.C. basketball products, starting with back-to-back AA high school championships, two first team provincial all-star honours and an MVP award at Aldergrove in 1993-94 and ‘94-95. Nohr went on to play at Langara College in 1997-98 and ’98-99, winning two CCAA national championships and twice garnering honours as a first team BCCAA all-star. In the ’98-99 season he was also named a CCAA all-Canadian, CCAA player of the year and MVP of the national championship. If that’s not impressive enough Randy then took his game to Saint Francis Xavier, where he won consecutive CIS titles in 1999-2000 and ’00-01. Nohr, was named MVP of the Final 8 championships both times ending his illustrious career winning 4 straight National Championships and collecting 4 MVP awards along the way. DRIVE would like to thank Coach Randy, a true legend in BC basketball, for sharing his wonderful thoughts in the latest edition of "Retro MVP".

DRIVE: What is your greatest memory from High School?

RN: I have so many great memories of high school its hard to choose just one. To top the list has to be winning the AA provincials my grade 11 year because nobody thought we could do it. My grade 12 year was good to but after you win it the year before most people just accepted it to happen again. I guess even I did to.

DRIVE: What was your daily practice routine in High School? How much time did you spend working on specific skills?

RN: When I was younger I used to put in so much time. In grade 8 to 10 we used to come to school about an hour and a half before school would start and we normally would shoot and work on our game for about 45 minutes until the older guy showed up and then we played games. I think playing these games is one of the reasons that I am so competitive. These games used to be wars. Back then even some of the teachers would play and the senior guys used to play and we would have 4 sometimes even 5 teams waiting for next. So if you lost you might not get to play any more. We would play at Lunch but that was just the older guys mostly. When I got to grade 9 I was allowed to play all the time with the older guys but in grade 8 I was just shooting on one of the side hoops watching the older guys play. Then after school I would stay until about 5 every night just working on my game. When I got to grade 11 I used to get there so early I would be waiting at the school for the janitors to open up so I could get in. I would sometimes be there for an hour before some of the other guys would show up. Then we would play 5 on 5 or 3 on 3 for about 30 minutes or so before school would start. Then after school I would be around for about 2 hours most days. Grade 12 was about the same as grade 11, less playing and more just me working on my game.

DRIVE: You won 4 straight national championships, 2 with Langara and 2 at St. Francis Xavier, what were the biggest difference you noticed between B.C. High School basketball, CCAA, and the CIS?

RN: Well the biggest difference when you move up a level is always the size of the guys you are playing against and the speed of the game. Each level the guys are that much bigger and that much quicker.

DRIVE: Who are some of the best player's you have faced and why?

RN: Nash would have to be the best. I have played against him a lot a few years ago on the National team and he is just so good. He works so hard on the little things. He is extremely competitive and he just raises the bar for everybody around him. I have been pretty luck and have had the chance to play against a lot of good players during my career. Nash is not the quickest guy or the biggest guy but he is by far the best player I’ve played against.

DRIVE: What advice would you give young player's growing up in B.C, how can they take their game to the next level, both academically and in regards to basketball?

RN: I believe that there are a lot of great basketball players in BC high school. If I was going to give them advice it would be to take care of there school. If you can’t get into a University or College you will not be able to push your self to be the best basketball player you can be. Regarding Basketball, guys need to do a better job of looking at the big picture. What I mean by that is guys need to figure out what position they are going to be when they are older and make sure they work on the skills they are going to need when they get there. If you are 6'1’’ and the biggest guy on your team and you have to play post so be it, but if you want to play after high school you better work on guard skills or that will most likely not happen.

DRIVE: Now you're an assistant Coach with UBC, what do you look for in potential recruits who would like to play University basketball?

RN: The first thing I notice is your basketball game, the first thing I would ask is what are your grades like? It does not help me at all if you are a great basketball player but I can't get you into UBC. When we are looking at players we are looking at so many things talent being a big one but also potential, how hard they work, what type of person they are, what position are they and what we need at UBC.

DRIVE: How has your experience been playing both professionally and for the Canadian National team?

RN: Playing professional basketball was one of my personal goals for myself and I’m so happy that I was able to accomplish that. As a Canadian with out a European passport it’s extremely difficult and being a point guard does not help matters. It was a great experience and I suggest to anybody to try it. If not with basketball, just to travel and to see as many different countries as possible is something to remember. I had such a great time and learned a lot about myself as a basketball player and as person. Plus getting paid to do something you love like playing basketball is pretty cool.

Canadian National team WOW, It has been a trip. I have been to so many places because of it, China, Turkey, and The Dominican Republic to name a few. These are places that I would have never gone too if it wasn’t for basketball. Getting to be part of the national team program for 5 or 6 years now has been great. I have got to meet some of Canada's best coaches and players and just to be around them has been great. Playing for your country is different then playing for any other team you will every play for because you are representing so many people, not just you and your family but everybody else in Canada. Playing on the National team has been great but I would by lying if I did not say it’s been a little bit frustrating at times. Trying to make the team as a point guard is not that easy. First there are only going to be 2 on the team and second Nash is getting one of those spots when ever he wants it. So you are trying out for one spot against everybody in Canada that is under 6'4. So it makes it extremely tough to earn a spot. My first few years involved in the program I would make the team and get to play lots. Then I would get cut when Steve would show up witch is not easy but at the same time it’s such an honor to be there.

DRIVE would like to wish Coach Randy and the rest of the UBC Thunderbird squad the best of luck on this upcoming season.