Kyrie Irving grew up in West Orange, New Jersey, just 22 miles from Jersey City, which is currently March Madness central thanks to Saint Peter’s.
Irving didn’t see the Peacocks shock Purdue to become the first 15 seed to ever reach the Elite Eight on Friday night, but he is happy to see a Jersey squad dominating March Madness headlines as the ultimate Cinderella.
“I didn’t get a chance to [watch],” Irving said. “But what a way to embrace New Jersey basketball.”
Irving and Saint Peter’s head coach Shaheen Holloway both attended St. Patrick High School in Elizabeth, New Jersey, and both went on to play point guard at prestigious basketball colleges, Irving at Duke and Holloway at Seton Hall.
“Grateful to see Shaheen doing his thing,” Irving said. “He recruited me when I was in high school. We all have pretty great relationships among the New Jersey basketball culture.”
Jersey basketball is at the forefront of March Madness thanks to the Peacocks, who are now one win away from the Final Four. But so is Irving’s alma mater, which would take on Saint Peter’s if both teams win. So, who would he root for?
“I’m rooting for both teams,” Irving laughed. “I got New Jersey and Duke. I can’t lose on that.”
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