Catching up with Chris Hernandez

Former Clovis West High School point guard Chris Hernandez is enjoying life in Spain as a professional basketball player. Hernandez is the third leading scorer for his team C.B. Valladolid and also leads the team in three pointers attempted (140) and made (56). He’s a 94 percent free throw shooter. The Stanford grad took some time to answer VSP President George Takata’s questions in this exclusive one-on-one interview.

GEORGE TAKATA: Where in Spain are you now?
CHRIS HERNANDEZ: I’m currently playing in Valladolid, Spain. I have been playing in Valladolid since August 23, 2008.

GT: What are some of the main differences between playing in Spain to the U.S.?
CH: I think the biggest difference is the big men. U.S. big men on average are taught to focus more on one on one defense compared to big men overseas pay more attention to help defense. On offense, big men overseas are by far better shooters on average.

GT: Do you still have aspirations of playing in the NBA?
CH: My aspirations to play in the NBA are more realistic than they were when I was growing up. I would love to play in the NBA, but I have to prove myself overseas first.

GT: Did you learn Spanish in Spain?
CH: I began learning Spanish in high school. I studied Spanish for two years, but did not retain much of what I learned. In college, I studied Spanish again, but only for one year. Again, I did not retain much because in both high school and college I never spoke Spanish outside the classroom. This is my third year in Spain, and every year I have been learning and studying. I feel that I have good grasp for the language now.

GT: Are you considered to be a fan favorite?
CH: I don’t think so, but I honestly don’t know. I don’t read any of the papers or watch the local news. The no read/no watch policy is something I began doing in college and I have continued it in Spain as well. I don’t like to get too high on praise and dwell too much on criticism.

GT: Do you miss Fresno?
CH: Yes, I miss Fresno. My family is in Fresno and I have a lot of friends that I grew up with that are still living in the NO. I also miss a lot of my favorite places to get food….aka Golden Donuts and Fresno Bagel.

GT: What are some of the biggest differences in living in Spain compared to the U.S. – gas prices, food prices, etc.?
CH: One of the biggest things is that virtually any types of business whether it is banks, supermarkets, post offices or restaurants all have different time schedules for when they are open to do business. For example, banks are only open from 10-2 Mon- Fri; they are not open on the weekends. There are no 24 hour stores AT ALL. On Sunday, everything is closed except for restaurants. In general, the lifestyle in Spain is much more laid back than it is in the States. During the day there is a 2-3 hour break from work for a “siesta” or nap. During lunch and dinner, people usually sit, eat and talk for hours. They don’t like to dine and dash like people normally do in the states.

GT:What did you get your degrees in at Stanford?
CH: I earned a BA in Sociology and my MA in Sociology with a focus in business and organization.

GT: How often do you come back to Fresno?
CH: I usually come back to Fresno for a couple weeks in the summer and during my Christmas break.

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