The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Kristen Nash: Family ties
02.09.2007 | Women's Basketball
A family that plays together, stays together.
This is especially true for 6-3 freshmen Kristen Nash whose life, prior to UT, had been dominated by family basketball competitions. Now, basketball has been put on hold by an ongoing right foot stress reaction injury suffered in the preseason that has caused the wiry 6-3 frontcourt player to sit out whole year. More than ever Kristen needs the support of her family, and lucky for her, one of them is joining her at UT next year.
That would be youngest-by-one-year sister Kathleen Nash, a 6-2 forward, who signed a National Letter of Intent in November to join the Longhorns basketball program.
Kristen and Kathleen are well-known in the AAU and Texas basketball circles. Both earned Street & Smith All-America honors and combined to lead their high school team, Plano West, to the 2006 Texas 5A state title, as they starred on the Erwin Center court to bring 35-6 Plano West its first-ever girls basketball 5A crown along with a No. 20 nationally high school ranking by Sports Illustrated at season's end.
Although UT head coach Jody Conradt is thrilled to have the Nash duo in her program, she expresses much disappointment at losing Kristen for the 2006-07 season.
"It's been a huge disappointment not to have Kristen in the lineup," noted Conradt. "In the preseason, we saw flashes of how strong and competitive she is. She got herself ready to play with hard work in the summer and the fall, and was ready to contribute, especially with her rebounding and low post play."
"This is not an injury which can heal easily, and it's forced us to lose a young player who we were really counting on to help us right away," concluded Conradt. "Kristen is a tough player with a lot of personality, and we really miss that on the court."
Though excited about the arrival of her sister, Kristen still has one thing to deal with: the continuing dilemma of her foot injury.
"I am just watching it right now," she said. "They (sports medicine staff and doctors) want it to heal naturally so they won't have to go in and make an incision or do surgery. The injury came from overuse; I have had some foot issues before, so it is an on-going problem."
Never one to sit still, Kristen has had to develop some patience when dealing with the injury.
"I have been getting in trouble a lot trying to over-do with my foot," smiled Nash, "and I can run in my boot really well now if I have to get somewhere fast! I love to run and work out, so this has been really hard for me. My coaches and my father have been telling me to slow it down and be patient, but it's hard to sit and watch when I want to be out there, helping us."
When asked about her sister Kathleen coming to Texas this summer, Kristen immediately lit up, evidence of just how thrilled she is about her sister joining her on the Forty Acres.
"We've grown up playing on the same teams," Kristen said of her sister, "so I am really excited. Kathleen is really funny, but at the same time she is really caring. She is the only person I know who can make me really laugh if I am having the worst day. She is one of those people who I really, really appreciate."
Kristen was quick to compliment Kathleen's basketball skills and notes that two Nash's on the floor will not be a bad combination.
"Kathleen's a great, competitive basketball player and a smart player," said Kristen. "She is more of a slasher and perimeter player than I am, and can really shoot the ball. In games I would always know where she is going to be, what she is going to do or whether she is going to shoot, so I could help."
Will fans and coaches see sibling rivalry with the Nash sisters? Absolutely not, unless ... it is about clothing and what to wear and maybe about cleaning a dorm room.
"We are rooming together this summer," said Kristin, in noting that all incoming basketball freshmen enroll in summer school courses to jumpstart their academic careers, "but we don't fight. We get along great; we're best friends. We are the exact same size, though, so when we go shopping and get an outfit we argue and argue about who gets to wear it first! We're also going to fight over who is going to do the laundry and clean up the room, but that's typical sister stuff. I think it'll be great, overall."
Kristin said Kathleen's arrival in the summer will be good for her as well, since taking summer classes while training for basketball helped Kristen adjust to life at UT.
"Coming in the summer helped me out a lot," said Kristin, an education major who was named to the Big 12 Commissioner's Honor Roll in the fall. "If I came in the fall, I know I would have been really overwhelmed. During the summer I was able to adjust well to all the demands of workouts, classes, studying and playing. I got over my homesickness a lot this summer. Every day there is still stuff I am learning, such as managing my time, so I think spending the summer here definitely helped."
It's a Nash family love affair with basketball. Father Wayne Nash played basketball at Weatherford (Texas) Junior College and brother, Michael, a 6-5 guard, currently plays at Pepperdine University.
"My dad coached me growing up," said Kristin. "He coached all three of us. I grew up playing against my brother and sister in the backyard."
Now, support from Kristin's "local" family-her teammates-as well as encouragement and advice from her family members are helping her pull through this difficult time of watching from the sidelines.
"Everyone has been really great and supportive," Nash noted. "I have to keep being told to slow it down and be patient. But, it's hard to sit when I want the chance to help us out there."
For now, as she anticipates the arrival of her sister, Kristen will continue her rehab and take it easy on her foot; but don't expect her to take it easy next season.
She made it clear what to expect from her once she rejoins the team on the court. "I am just going to bring intensity, competitiveness and what I've learned about college basketball from watching this year. I will do my absolute best every chance I get."
