Caribbean born Toronto Raptor showing off his skills this season

BY KAYLA KARIM

Since last June the Toronto Raptors made a name for themselves around the world as the NBA Champions. They faced adversity while pushing through top teams in the league to meet Golden State in the finals where they clinched their first ever NBA title in six games. Although Kawhi Leonard was able to help with leading the successful Raptors pack, they weren’t a team that was built with All Stars. In fact, much of their roster consisted of players who perfected their skills in the development ‘G-League’ including Chris Boucher.

Saint Lucian born Chris Boucher’s story isn’t like the others. He didn’t know that he wanted to be an NBA player until much later on in his life. Born in Castries, St. Lucia, he moved to Montreal with his mother when he was five years old. He grew up playing soccer and ice hockey for most of his childhood and when he turned sixteen, he had dropped out of high school to work as a cook and dishwasher.

In 2012, he was noticed and offered a spot on the Amateur Athletic Union AAU team, an academy that was created to help inner-city teenagers that could be future prospects to earn a high school diploma, which he then accepted.

After playing one season at New Mexico Junior College, he attended Northwest College in Powell, Wyoming where he was named NJCAA Player of the Year. When it was time to move to college, Boucher chose the University of Oregon where he was slim however his energy overpowered his physique.

Chris Boucher went undrafted at the 2017 draft but was picked up by the Golden State Warriors signing one of the first two-way contracts that the NBA had just implemented. Only one game was played with the Warriors in June and on July 20^th 2018, Boucher signed with the Toronto Raptors as a free agent.

Since then Boucher has been making strides with this young Toronto team. Spending most of his time with the Raptors 905, the twenty-six-year old was named the G-League MVP and the Defensive Player of the Year last year.

This year the Raptors were plagued with injuries early on in the season where players like Boucher had to step up. His energy is contagious and not only does he give the team momentum when they need it the most, he also puts up the numbers. The power forward is consistent averaging 5.6 points per game in only 12 games and added a career high of 15 points earlier this month against the LA Lakers.

There is no doubt that Chris Boucher is playing the best basketball of his career and is definitely making St. Lucia proud.