HOUSTON — Brothers Nate Britt and Kris Jenkins sat on opposite sides of a room in their Upper Marlboro, Md., home when North Carolina played Villanova in the 2013 NCAA Tournament.
The two high school seniors had already signed with the two programs — Britt to the Tar Heels and Jenkins to the Wildcats. So, naturally, trash talk ensued.
“At first, I don’t think we were even talking to each other,” Britt said.
“I think we were texting each other and talking trash back and forth. Emotions were high and the game was pretty close throughout.”
They watched the game not only as brothers but as competitors, too — something that comes easily in the Britt household, where races up the stairs or even to fasten a seatbelt are routine.
But when UNC and Villanova face off in tonight’s national championship game, no other competition could carry as much weight.
“I do hope he plays well and he’s injury-free,” Jenkins said. “But there’s nobody in the world I want to beat more than my brother.”
Jenkins and Britt are related by choice and not through genetics.
They met as 10-year-olds at an AAU tournament in Florida, and their parents stayed in touch. A year later, Jenkins joined Britt’s AAU team and the two developed a bond.