An exciting time for Canada's Nurse family
EDMONTON (FIBA World Championship for Women/2015 FIBA Americas Women's Championship) - Kia Nurse and her brother, Darnell, are pulling hard for each other this season.The two are in the early stages of wha
EDMONTON (FIBA World Championship for Women/2015 FIBA Americas Women's Championship) - Kia Nurse and her brother, Darnell, are pulling hard for each other this season.
The two are in the early stages of what could turn out to be a famous journey for both in the world of sports.
Their father, Richard, played in the Canadian Football League (CFL) and now, the scintillating siblings are putting the Nurse name in bright lights again.
If you follow basketball, you know all about Kia, the teenager who forced her way onto the senior team that played at the 2013 FIBA Americas Championship for Women and then at the 2014 FIBA World Championship for Women.
She had some solid performances last year in Turkey, including a 12-point, two-assist effort in the Canadians' important triumph over the Czech Republic.
Proof that Kia, who turns 19 on 22 February, is one of the finest basketball talents ever to come out of Canada is the scholarship she received to play for NCAA powerhouse University of Connecticut, one of the most dominant programs in the American college game.
The 1.77m guard is a freshman this season but logging plenty of minutes for top-ranked UConn, who are coached by USA national team boss Geno Auriemma.
She wasted no time in establishing herself as an important part of the program.
Congrats to Kia Nurse ... @GCShowcase MVP! pic.twitter.com/JtpQKMR4FK
— UConn Women's Hoops (@UConnWBB) December 1, 2014Nurse helped UConn knock off No. 1 ranked South Carolina on Monday night in Storrs.
Darnell is a huge talent, too, but on the ice.
He was the seventh pick in the first round of the 2013 NHL Entry Draft.
A defenceman in the Edmonton Oilers organization, he turned 20 on 4 February.
Kia was incredibly excited for her brother earlier this season when Darnell was about to make his NHL debut.
wishing my big brother @drtwofive the best of luck tn in his NHL debut! Unbelievably proud of you!
#thefamilyallstar pic.twitter.com/7eukxAix0s
— Kia Nurse (@KayNurse11) October 14, 2014Likewise, Darnell has been a big cheerleader for Kia.
The two are extremely close.
He takes a lot of pride in the fact that she represents Canada in international basketball.
"That's the most proud I've ever been and the most happy I've ever been for anyone, to see her be a part of that [national] team," Darnell said in an interview with the NHL.com website.
After what is going to be an extremely busy several months for both, Kia and Darnell will be able to sit back and reflect on what has been a hard but fun year.
This summer, Darnell may even be able to watch his sister in action because Canada will host the FIBA Americas Championship for Women - a qualifying event for the Rio de Janeiro Olympics - in Edmonton.
FIBA