Mike Adras stood a few feet off the Walkup Skydome court earlier this week and looked like a proud papa as he watched senior forward Nick Larson conduct a television interview on the court.
NAU's 11th-year head coach had an ear-to-ear smile and gushed about his 6-foot-8 senior to anyone who would listen as the Ventura, Calif., native prepares to play his final two home games of his career this weekend against Portland State and Eastern Washington.
"Look at him," Adras said with a head nod and a big grin. "He looks good out there. He's filled in the shoulders. He's really grown up since he's been here."
Adras then started to walk away before he turned around and made one more comment about his senior that could be considered about as big of a compliment as you can get from the hard-nosed coach.
"He made it. He never gave in," Adras said.
And, that might just be what Larson is most proud of when his Lumberjack career is complete.
Anyone who has put on an NAU basketball uniform in the past 11 years knows how tough Adras can be and how much of a challenge it can be to play for the demanding coach.
Larson came in with two other players, Bernard Burrell and Deveric Taylor, and neither player lasted more than a year at NAU.
Burrell and Taylor were almost joined by Larson after that first year playing for Adras.
"I wasn't completely sure that I was going to come back," said Larson of the offseason after his freshman year. "My first year was very rough as a freshman. You need to grow up a lot and I feel like I've done that under (Adras). He's a tough coach. Not a lot of people can make it through four years like I have. I feel like it's a huge accomplishment for me just to have gone through four years."
Why did Larson stick it out?
"Because (Adras) turns you into a man," Larson said. "When you get out of here, nothing else is going to faze you."
It seems like that has already started working on Larson, because little has shaken the senior this season.
As the lone senior on this year's roster, Larson knew before the season began that the spotlight was on him and it was time to produce. As a freshman, he had 6-7 senior Ruben Boykin Jr., in front of him at his position and then as a sophomore and junior, Larson battled 6-6 transfer Zarko Comagic for playing time.
This year though, Larson didn't have a safety net and Adras made sure he knew that before last summer.
"The expectations were very high and this was explained to him at the end of (last) season," Adras said. "I told Nick, 'There's no Zarko and there's no Ruben, so you have to figure out what has to get done and how you're going do it.' I think that was squarely placed on him last April and he accepted the challenge. He did the work he needed to do."
Indeed, Larson has answered the bell as a senior.
After scoring 206 points in his first three seasons combined, Larson has poured in 163 points this year and still has at least three games to play. He's started 20 of the team's 24 games this year after drawing just 21 starts his first three years.
The senior forward is also pulling down 5.9 rebounds per game and 6.4 boards per game in Big Sky Conference play. He leads the Jacks in both categories and is ranked fifth in the conference in rebounds per game in league games.
Larson has also shown versatility, going 24 of 66 from 3-point range so far this season and has only missed four free throw attempts in 33 chances. He's also played multiple positions and is third on the squad in blocks.
"I knew a lot of pressure was on me this summer," Larson said. "I knew I had to step up and be a leader for this team. I trained a lot during the summer knowing how much was at stake here. I just wanted to make sure I was ready for the season.
"Being the only senior on this team, I wanted to have some personal pride to show what I did here over my four years. I really want to leave my mark here somehow."
Perhaps, Larson has already done that by just sticking it out and his reaching his Senior Night, which will take place Saturday night against the Eagles.
"I am very proud of him," Adras said. "It's one of those things were you have seen somebody really grow up in the four years he's been here. He's matured a ton on and off the basketball court.
"We're going to miss him. You can have a lot of fun with him. He can laugh at a lot of things. He's not bad looking. I'm sure the girls like him. He's got a lot going for him, let's just say that."
Daniel Berk can be reached at dberk@azdailysun.com or 556-2251.
NAU VS. PORTLAND STATE
Today, 6:35 p.m., Skydome
Radio: KAFF-AM 930 (pregame starts at 6 p.m.)
PROBABLE STARTERS:
NAU
F Josh Lepley (6-10, sophomore, 5.6 ppg)
F Nick Larson (6-8, senior, 6.8 ppg)
G Gabe Rogers (6-2, freshman, 8 ppg)
G Cameron Jones (6-4, junior, 18.9 ppg)
G Julian Olubuyi (5-9, junior, 2.8 ppg)
PORTLAND STATE
F Jamie Jones (6-7, senior, 14 ppg)
F Julius Thomas (6-5, senior, 10 ppg)
F Paul Guede (6-5, junior, 4.9 ppg)
G Melvin Jones (5-10, junior 12 ppg)
G Dominic Waters (6-1, senior, 18 ppg)
