PORT WILLIAMS, N.S. - Siblings Jennika, Jayda and Keevan Veinot have always been close – and they have always been involved in one sport or another, for as long as they can remember.Twin Jayda and Keevan, who turned 16 recently, are particularly close, but sister Jennika, who will be 18 in March, is only 20 months older.
“Growing up, we all did a variety of sports,” said Jennika, a Grade 12 student at Horton. “I did cross-country, track and field, soccer and softball, but these days, it’s mostly basketball.”
Jayda and Keevan are both in Grade 10. Jennika and Jayda both play D-1 girls’ basketball for Horton, while Keevan is a member of the Horton D-1 boys’ team.
To complete the family circle, mom Jennifer coaches her two daughters, while dad Kevin is co-coach of the Horton boys’ team.
“We’ve always had our parents coach us, so it’s a normal thing for us,” Jennika says. “It’s something we’ve gotten used to over the years.”
Longtime love of basketball
When Jennika was in Primary, her parents started a youth basketball program at Port Williams Elementary. Jennika played, and although Jayda and Keevan were only three, they hit the court as well.
Growing up, they often got to play on the same teams.
“We all support each other,” Jayda says. “We both learned from Jennika, because she’s older and has been playing longer.”
Although they all have done other sports – Jayda is also a high jumper in season, while Keevan is a cross-country and school track runner – all three siblings say they prefer basketball over anything else.
“I like the intensity of basketball,” says Jennika.
As for Keevan, he says, “I just enjoy the game, both playing it and watching it.”
Jayda meanwhile, enjoys everything about it – “the playing, the being with my teammates. I enjoy it all.”
Although both parents played basketball, there has never been any pressure put on any of the Veinot children to play the sport.
“We grew up with it, but there was never any pressure to play,” Jayda says. “We all liked it from the start, and just kept playing.”
All three siblings have certainly benefitted from their parents’ experience.
“Mom and dad have definitely been an inspiration, as well as a constant source of support,” Jayda says.
All three Veinot teens have grown into talented basketball players, albeit filling different roles on their respective teams.
Keevan, currently almost six-foot-two, is a guard, and more often than not a point guard. He says he plans to remain at that position, even if he ends up being six-foot-five like his father.
Jayda, at five-foot-eleven, is mainly a shooting guard, although she has played both at the point and on the wing. Jennika, also five-foot-eleven, has always been more of a post player.
Looking forward
In Grade 12 this year, Jennika has other things on her mind besides basketball.
“I’m not sure where I’m going next year. I’m looking at Dal and Lethbridge, to study neuroscience.” That could lead to a career as a doctor, she added.
She is also helping coach the Horton Grade 9 girls this season. Although she hasn’t really considered a career in coaching, she isn’t planning on playing university ball, “so this will probably be my last year.”
With two more years of high school to complete, neither Jayda nor Keevan has given much thought to their future education.
As for their basketball future, “it’s a little early to say what we’ll do, but I definitely would like to play university basketball,” Jayda said, adding, “I don‘t know where right now.”
Keevan added, “I want to go as far as I can for as long as I can.”
All three are enjoying the current season with the Griffins.
“We have basically the same team as last year, except with more experience,” Keevan said. “Most of us have been playing together since bantam, and we know each other really well.”
As for the girls, the team has lost a couple of players since last year, but they “play really well together,” Jayda said.
Like the boys, the Horton girls “have all been playing with or against each other for a long time. We have great team chemistry.”
The team, she said, is full of players whose “goal is to do our part to help make our teams the best they can be. It’s been a lot of fun, being the three of us.”
Twin Jayda and Keevan, who turned 16 recently, are particularly close, but sister Jennika, who will be 18 in March, is only 20 months older.
“Growing up, we all did a variety of sports,” said Jennika, a Grade 12 student at Horton. “I did cross-country, track and field, soccer and softball, but these days, it’s mostly basketball.”
Jayda and Keevan are both in Grade 10. Jennika and Jayda both play D-1 girls’ basketball for Horton, while Keevan is a member of the Horton D-1 boys’ team.
To complete the family circle, mom Jennifer coaches her two daughters, while dad Kevin is co-coach of the Horton boys’ team.
“We’ve always had our parents coach us, so it’s a normal thing for us,” Jennika says. “It’s something we’ve gotten used to over the years.”
Longtime love of basketball
When Jennika was in Primary, her parents started a youth basketball program at Port Williams Elementary. Jennika played, and although Jayda and Keevan were only three, they hit the court as well.
Growing up, they often got to play on the same teams.
“We all support each other,” Jayda says. “We both learned from Jennika, because she’s older and has been playing longer.”
Although they all have done other sports – Jayda is also a high jumper in season, while Keevan is a cross-country and school track runner – all three siblings say they prefer basketball over anything else.
“I like the intensity of basketball,” says Jennika.
As for Keevan, he says, “I just enjoy the game, both playing it and watching it.”
Jayda meanwhile, enjoys everything about it – “the playing, the being with my teammates. I enjoy it all.”
Although both parents played basketball, there has never been any pressure put on any of the Veinot children to play the sport.
“We grew up with it, but there was never any pressure to play,” Jayda says. “We all liked it from the start, and just kept playing.”
All three siblings have certainly benefitted from their parents’ experience.
“Mom and dad have definitely been an inspiration, as well as a constant source of support,” Jayda says.
All three Veinot teens have grown into talented basketball players, albeit filling different roles on their respective teams.
Keevan, currently almost six-foot-two, is a guard, and more often than not a point guard. He says he plans to remain at that position, even if he ends up being six-foot-five like his father.
Jayda, at five-foot-eleven, is mainly a shooting guard, although she has played both at the point and on the wing. Jennika, also five-foot-eleven, has always been more of a post player.
Looking forward
In Grade 12 this year, Jennika has other things on her mind besides basketball.
“I’m not sure where I’m going next year. I’m looking at Dal and Lethbridge, to study neuroscience.” That could lead to a career as a doctor, she added.
She is also helping coach the Horton Grade 9 girls this season. Although she hasn’t really considered a career in coaching, she isn’t planning on playing university ball, “so this will probably be my last year.”
With two more years of high school to complete, neither Jayda nor Keevan has given much thought to their future education.
As for their basketball future, “it’s a little early to say what we’ll do, but I definitely would like to play university basketball,” Jayda said, adding, “I don‘t know where right now.”
Keevan added, “I want to go as far as I can for as long as I can.”
All three are enjoying the current season with the Griffins.
“We have basically the same team as last year, except with more experience,” Keevan said. “Most of us have been playing together since bantam, and we know each other really well.”
As for the girls, the team has lost a couple of players since last year, but they “play really well together,” Jayda said.
Like the boys, the Horton girls “have all been playing with or against each other for a long time. We have great team chemistry.”
The team, she said, is full of players whose “goal is to do our part to help make our teams the best they can be. It’s been a lot of fun, being the three of us.”
