69传媒

Kiana Linton-Brown didn鈥檛 always know she wanted to be a basketball player.

Growing up, Linton-Brown was exposed to the game quite a bit because her older brother Shae played, but it was gymnastics and track that consumed her time.

鈥淚 didn鈥檛 start playing basketball until about Grade 5 or 6,鈥� she said. 鈥淢y brother wanted me to run track because he believed I could be great.鈥�

Linton-Brown always looked up to Shae and admired everything he accomplished on the court. His love of the game eventually rubbed off on his sister.

鈥淢y brother has been my role model my entire life, and I wanted to be like him.鈥�

Like Shae, Linton-Brown decided to go to the east coast to play university basketball. Shae is currently enjoying a strong first year with the Saint Mary鈥檚 Huskies, while his sister prepares to join the 69传媒Panthers in the fall of 2022.

鈥淲e decided to pursue basketball on the east coast because we have family in Nova Scotia,鈥� Linton-Brown said. 鈥淢y mom was born and raised in Halifax, so we felt that it was the best fit.鈥�

Both Linton-Brown and her brother call Toronto their hometown, and it鈥檚 where Linton-Brown established herself as a quick point guard who is tough to defend as she likes to push the ball down the floor.

Linton-Brown credits her time with Canada Elite, a program designed to help elite level basketball players reach their full potential, for helping her tap into her own natural talent. Canada Elite has had many success stories and notable alumni, including Utah Jazz鈥檚 Nickeil Alexander-Walker and NBA G League players Justin Jackson and Thon Maker.

鈥淭hey (Canada Elite) helped me grow and mature me into the person I am today,鈥� said the 18-year-old. 鈥淭hey were the first ones to teach me anything about basketball.鈥�

Linton-Brown has since taken everything she has learned to the high school level, where she captained the Toronto Prep Blues and averaged nine points, three assists, two rebounds, and four steals in her final season.

While steals aren鈥檛 the only indicator of a good defender, Panthers head coach Matt Gamblin believes she鈥檒l fit in with his plans.

鈥淲e have a recent history of guards who are great on-ball defenders and can really get to the rim,鈥� Gamblin said. 鈥淜iana is a great athlete and will fit into our fast-paced play and defence-first approach very well.鈥�

With several significant players moving on after the season, Linton-Brown will have a chance to make an impact right away.

鈥淓veryone starts from the same place every year,鈥� said Gamblin. 鈥淲e are graduating probably the best backcourt in program history, so there will be opportunities and chances for people to step up and step in.鈥�