The Martlet

In 2006, two of the best high school basketball players in the province lived in the Comox Valley. Ryan MacKinnon, a 6’4 shooting guard was leading the way for Highland Secondary School, and Nick Adair, a 6’8 centre, was dominating for G.P. Vanier Secondary School.

With the recent news that Adair has been recruited to play with the Vikes, these former rivals will be playing alongside one another for the UVic men’s basketball team during the 2009-2010 school year.

When it comes to sports, Vanier and Highland are about as big of rivals as there were in high school basketball. Games were always fiercely contested, with hundreds of fans from each side coming out to support the teams. Adair and MacKinnon only added more fuel to the fire.

“Highland versus Vanier was a huge rivalry,” said MacKinnon’s former Highland teammate Jared Hendry. “Ryan was the best player for us, Nick [Adair] was their best. It made for some really good games.”

Vanier tended to get the best of Highland, but games were close and were fought hard until the last possession.

MacKinnon spoke of Adair’s defensive abilities and the player will benefit his UVic squad next year.

“Every time I took the ball to the basket he was there waiting for me with his long arms,” MacKinnon said.

Their high school rivalry was expanded the next year, with MacKinnon playing for UVic and Adair recruited by UBC. “The rivalry continued” said MacKinnon “Uvic and UBC are huge rivals.”

Adair transferred to Camosun the following year and the there were no games between the two for the first time since their early high school careers. After the CIS season this year, Adair announced that he was leaving Camosun to play for the Vikes.

Now, MacKinnon and Adair are playing for the same side, trying to bring CIS glory to UVic.

“It should definitely be fun playing alongside him, rather than against him,” MacKinnon said. “He’s really long and athletic; he should bring a lot to our team.”

With fifth-year seniors Tyler Hass and Mitch Gudgeon graduating, third years MacKinnon and Adair will be looked upon to lead the Vikes. Adair will likely be thrust into the front-court spot.

Last year, he showed he was ready to contribute in a big way, earning rookie-of-the-year honours while with Camosun. His last-year averages of 13.1 points per game and 7.6 rebounds per game will likely improve with another year of experience under his belt.

“I have to step up and take on a bigger role scoring and leadership-wise” stated MacKinnon.

The former all-rookie first teamer averaged ten points per game, 3.5 rebounds per game, along with two assists and one steal per game last year. He will look to improve upon these numbers while maintaining coach Craig Beaucamp’s strong defensive mentality.