Latest
Kia Nurse (’14) Signs With The University of Connecticut
On November 19, 2013, Hamilton Ontario native Kia Nurse (5’10”, G, St. Thomas More, 2014) officially signed her national letter of intent to become a University of Connecticut Husky.
“It’s a little overwhelming. So much support and I’m really appreciative of everybody,” said Nurse overwhelmed by the thought of the many people that have had a hand in her development to this point.
“Everybody has worked hard and gotten me to where I am. Basketball Canada, my coaches, the school and everything, I’m really happy for that.”
In the months leading up to this decision, Nurse, who is ranked as the number one prospect in Canada from the Class of 2014 had garnered quite a bit of attention.
She was one of the last of the highly ranked players in North America to make her decision, which led to quite the storm about where she would ultimately attend.
“I just kind of went with the flow. I mean I didn’t know where I was going, so I would tell you, ‘I didn’t know where I was going’. When I needed to focus on it I think I did, and that’s how I kept it under control.”
Nurse ultimately chose the University of Connecticut, one of the newer members of the American Athletic Conference, from the shortlist she revealed back in Early October. The list at the time included Penn State, Kentucky, Indiana and Tennessee.
“I think UConn is just going to be a lifetime experience that is going to benefit me for the better. With the high dreams and high goals that I want to achieve, I think this is the best fit and the best place for me to do it.”
It was no secret that Huskies Head Coach, Geno Auriemma, made Nurse a high priority as his next recruit, even making sure he spent time in Mexico to watch Nurse represent The Canadian National Senior Women’s Team. Being recruited by a Coach with the track record Auriemma has, was quite the allure for Nurse as well.
“I’ve seen seen what he has done with some amazing players,” said Nurse no doubt referring to the legacy of top players that have flourished under Auriemma including all-time greats such as Diana Taurasi, Sue Bird and Maya Moore. “I want to be like them. I aspire to be a great. So, that was the best fit for me.”
With the proven history of the UConn program over the past 20+ years, a stellar group of players will no doubt surround Nurse in UConn blue. And having been a lead on many of the teams in various aspects of her basketball career to this point, it was assuring to know that Nurse is prepared to not expect everything to revolve around her when she suits up next Fall.
“They have so many great players that there really isn’t a major focal point now. I think playing with such great players is only going to make me better, and I’m really looking forward to that,” she said with a team first mentality.
“If I not a starter, then I’m not a starter. I’ll just come off the bench. Its about working your way up. But, I’m going to work and give them a reason to start me.”
Another one of the reasons that Nurse mentions why she chose to attend UConn was because of how well they fit her style of play
“I think that I really fit into their style of play, that was one of the reasons why I chose them. They run. And that’s what I’ve done my entire life.”
She also concedes that there will be some things that she will continue to tighten up on between now and then that will help her come into their training camp well prepared.
“I think working in transition and continuing to work on finishing in transition and finishing in the lanes. Their offense is a lot of read and react, so I’ll be working on that, going there and being ready. I think with the [Canadian Senior Women’s] National Team we do a lot of read and react stuff too so I kind of have a bit of a head start, so I’m appreciative for that.”
