By: Noah Peterson, Athletic Communications Student Assistant
Christian Rose’s basketball story started like many others—it was simple.
“The first time I touched a basketball, I was eight years old. I played in a rec league with some buddies of mine when I was in third grade living in San Diego, and I fell in love with it.”
Many kids can relate to playing basketball with their friends as little kids. Not many, however, can relate to growing at the rate Chris did. “With most kids, girls grow earlier than boys. I grew at a girl’s pace.” By age 14, Chris was 6’ 6”.
Given his stature, it made sense that Chris was drawn to basketball. But it wasn’t his first sport, at least not at the beginning. Chris played Pop Warner football around the same time he started playing basketball. His size made him a weapon; so much so, that he was forced to play up.
“I had to play with older kids… I was 9 years old and playing football with 11–12-yearolds. It got to a point where I was really deterred from playing. I wanted to play with my friends, and I was tired of getting beat up (by older kids).”
From that point on, something had to change. Chris ate, slept and breathed basketball. He knew from as early as 11 or 12 years old that basketball could lead him to something bigger.
“That was when I really fell in love with the game and made the commitment to start that journey—really taking it seriously and learning to elevate my game.”
With a combination of his size and his work ethic, he earned a place on the varsity team his freshman year at The Bishop’s School, a college-prep academy near Chris’s hometown of San Diego. And boy, did he get off to a hot start.
In his first varsity game he hit a game tying shot at the end of regulation play. The next game, he drilled a game-winner. His third game, same story. Over his first 3 games, he averaged nearly 25 points and 12 rebounds.
“I thought I was Pac-12 bound… at that moment, I knew I had some kind of future in basketball.”
He cooled off after those initial performances, but that only created expectations of playing at the next level, which ultimately led him to NNU.
While Chris used a redshirt during his first year on campus, he came into his redshirt freshman season with high expectations.
“I had these huge aspirations for (that) year that I was going to meet all these marks… I was going to be the best player on the team and transfer out the next year and go to some big school, and quite the opposite happened.”
And yet, after what had been an incredibly disappointing season, it became a turning point not only in his evolution as a basketball player, but as a person. It was an unbelievably successful season for the Nighthawks, who qualified for the NCAA Division II National Tournament and won game after game before falling in the Sweet 16 to Colorado School of Mines.
Despite the lingering feeling of failure on a personal level, it became a tremendous learning experience and brought forth something greater. Chris said that in the face of personal failure and frustration, he not only learned how to be a great teammate, but it also served as a key moment in his faith journey.
“It changed my entire life trajectory,” Chris said of this experience and spiritual journey. “Before my walk with Christ I had a huge belief that sports were the end all be all and anything outside of that is a waste of time.” He called this mindset shallow and individualistic. “But NNU and the basketball team has shown me what life with God is and what it looks like to walk with God.”
Chris talked about the mindset that seems to run rampant through many young basketball players—the same one that used to plague him.
“A lot of guys come from very tough backgrounds, and they’re told their whole life if they want to make it, they have to earn a basketball scholarship, and you have to be good, because if not, you’re not going to earn people’s respect.” While that can be a tremendous motivator, it can also be a very dangerous path to go down.
“People work hard in order to accomplish their goals, but it is also a double-edged sword where (basketball) becomes people’s entire fulfillment and meaning. When people have a bad game or even a bad day at practice, it affects how they treat other people, and themselves.”
After his redshirt freshman season, Chris has continued to develop not just as a player, but as a person—which to him matters more than anything else. At the end of the day, it’s about something bigger.
“In that transition and in that time of realization, I came to the conclusion of what basketball’s purpose for me was—that the Lord had used this not as my purpose, but as a tool to mold me into someone better, someone smarter and an all-around better person.”
For Chris, it’s about keeping things in perspective. While basketball has represented a large portion of his life, his faith journey has helped him realize that life is much bigger than basketball.
“Winning that conference championship was awesome, but sooner or later that feeling goes away… of course it’s amazing that we made history for our school and our program, but that doesn’t make us or break us.”
Those lessons not only helped Chris grow as an individual, but they also translated to success on the court as well.
“After that redshirt season, I’ve played better each year. Yes, it comes with opportunities, but it also comes with the peace of mind knowing that regardless of how well or poorly I play, I am still favored in heaven.”
“NNU basketball has shown me what life with God looks like, and what it looks like to walk with him… we may not be a household name in the sports world, but you can’t find many other schools in the nation, let alone the West Coast region, that are going to care for their players as students and as children of God, you just won’t find it.”
Chris credits first-year head coach Jon Hawkins as having served a big role in his faith journey. Jon was the first NNU coach Chris met while Hawkins was serving as an assistant coach in 2018. In reflecting on Chris’s journey since that time, Coach Hawkins had this to say about his growth:
“Chris’s growth starts with his work ethic and willingness to listen and learn. His approach to getting better in all areas of his life, including basketball, takes discipline. We saw this discipline while recruiting him back in high school. His mom worked full-time as a nurse, and he not only had to stay up with his rigorous studies at The Bishop’s School but also had home responsibilities he took pride in doing. We had a good feeling his disciplined approach would allow him to take steps every year toward his development on the court.”
When asked what success looked like as his final season winds down, he didn’t mention a single personal accolade. He said, of course, the team wants to win the GNAC Championship while also mentioning his teammates and doing whatever he can to help them achieve their goal of playing at the next level.
“Any time I am in a position to get these dudes some highlights, I want to do that. They are super talented and sometimes it can be a handful of plays that matter the most in getting these guys a look.”
Coach Hawkins echoed Chris’s unselfishness and how valuable his development has been to the program since his arrival.
“Chris’s willingness to do whatever it takes to win influences every possession during a game that might not stand out on a stat sheet. However, all the little things he does during a game, including his approach to practice, have elevated this program to where it is now.
“The entire NNU community will miss Chris, but knowing the man he is and the Lord he serves, he will surely elevate and impact the next community he enters.”
“I want my story as a basketball player to be a testament of the Lord’s power,” Chris declared. “God showed me that we are more in life than our jobs, passions, careers and social statuses. God leads us to our purpose; our purposes do not lead us to God. My time at NNU has been nothing short of a learning experience with that. The coaches, a number of my teammates and the whole community demonstrated to me what it means to serve in humility, love in abundance and work with a higher purpose.”
At NNU, we do college different— integrating faith, learning and sports to mold not just skilled athletes but well-rounded individuals. This holistic approach sets NNU apart as a place where students are prepared for life’s broader challenges, not just professional achievements. The lessons learned and growth experienced at NNU will undoubtedly influence and inspire many wherever Chris’s future takes him.
