Brotherly battle between Jenkins, Britt for title

Kris Jenkins and Nate Britt, brothers in every way except blood, are giving each other the silent treatment for about 48 hours.

Maybe they will exchange a “good luck” or a fist bump before Jenkins and Villanova (34-5) face Britt and North Carolina (33-6) tonight in the NCAA Tournament championship game. Otherwise, “Nah,” Jenkins said, “no talking.”

While the Wildcats-Tar Heels matchup might be a no-lose situation for the Britt family, for the players involved there will definitely be only one winner.

“Whoever wins the game, obviously the other one is going to be hurt and going to feel bad,” Britt said. “That'll be permanent bragging rights for the rest of our lives.”

Jenkins and Britt met as 10-year-olds playing AAU basketball in the Washington, D.C., area. Eventually, Jenkins started playing for a team coached by Britt’s father and spending lots of time at the Britts’ home.

When Felicia Jenkins, a former college basketball player, got a job coaching at Benedict College in Columbia, S.C., she felt it would be best for Kris to stay with the Britts in Maryland permanently. In 2007, the Britts became Jenkins’ legal guardians.

“It’s been the greatest decision that’s ever happened in my life,” Jenkins said.

The Britts have spent the past few weeks bouncing around the country watching their sons play. Last weekend, they managed to attend all four Elite Eight games.

Nate Britt, the 6-1 guard who averages 5.5 points off the bench, said he does not know which section his parents and sister will be sitting in tonight.

“I do hope he plays well,” said Jenkins, second on Villanova in scoring (13.5 per game). “I hope he’s injury free and things like that. But there’s nobody in the world I want to beat more than my brother.”

This story was originally published April 3, 2016 at 8:52 PM with the headline "Brotherly battle between Jenkins, Britt for title."