TORONTO – From sharing a last name to sharing a court, siblings
Callie Wright and
Landon Wright are both playing for the blue and gold this year.
The Markham natives have come a long way together and have both been recruited to the Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) basketball program for the 2024-24 season.
The two siblings have had roots to the sport since they were young. They shared that athletics were very important in their family and they did a little bit of everything before setting their hearts on basketball.
Callie explained that watching the Raptors together was what drew them to the sport, "I feel growing up with season tickets to the Raptors games made us a little more invested [in basketball]. When they won [the NBA championship] we were a part of that."
Callie is joining the TMU Bold women's basketball team as a veteran after four seasons of playing in the NCAA. After high school, the forward played her freshman and sophomore seasons at the University of Memphis before transferring to Holy Cross for her junior and senior seasons. Wright was a member of the team that claimed back-to-back Patriots League Champion titles for Holy Cross.
Landon is coming to TMU as a first-year player, fresh out of William Academy. The point guard was captain of his high school varsity team in both his junior and senior season He joins the team eager to get started and play close to home.
The two siblings shared that the coaching staff and being together was what drew them to TMU.
"I think one of the biggest things was obviously coming to play for Carly [Clarke]. I think we've always had that connection. I've known her since a young age so I've always wanted to come back and learn from her. And then also coming back to play for the same school as Landon was a big factor and being closer to my parents," said Callie.
"Honestly the coaching staff was really engaged when it came to recruiting. Coach Dave [DeAveiro] and Coach Jeremie [Kayeye] were always at games, coming to practices and just reaching out. Obviously staying home and being close to Callie was something as well. So those two factors are what really drove my choice," said Landon
The siblings get to live out their dreams together but also get to help each other progress. They shared that they find ways to improve each other's game.
"I feel like we're very honest with each other, like if she has a bad game or I have a bad game we can give very honest constructive criticism to each other," said Landon.
Serving her role as a big sister, Callie wants to pass on her wisdom to Landon, "Being the older one I feel like sometimes I've been through the things that he's just started to go through. I feel like I'm trying to take on that big sister role just to help him out because freshman year is very hard. I'm trying to make sure he can capitalize and do the best he can."
Playing at the university level close to home makes it easier for their family to support them.
"It's a good feeling, all our family is able to come and watch us both back to back, everything you could kinda dream for," said Callie.
After four years apart, Landon can support his sister once again, "It's nice having her play right before because I can always see her games. Before, when she was away, I was never able to watch it unless it was being live-streamed somewhere."
