Hoop dream come true: Orrville girl meets her basketball hero
Orrville sixth-grader Neia Kay didn't get to see her favorite NBA player, Milwaukee's Giannis Antetokounmpo, compete in person in Cleveland, but after a post-game meeting, the basketball superstar flew her and her family to Milwaukee for a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Orrville sixth-grader Neia Kay desperately wanted a chance to see her favorite NBA player, Milwaukee Bucks eight-time All-Star Giannis Antetokounmpo, compete in person.
Sadly, for the third straight year, a family trip to Cleveland’s Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse resulted with Antetokounmpo being sidelined due to an injury prior to the Cavaliers’ 116-114 win on Nov. 4.
However, magic was in the air. Disappointment would turn into elation. Kay’s hoop dreams would be realized beyond her wildest imagination by the night’s end.
A few minutes before halftime, Kay stood and held up a sign she had made that read, “Giannis You’re My ‘Why’ I Play Basketball.”
“Giannis looked over at me,” said Kay, whose mom Amber (McDaniel) Kay had splurged for third-row seats behind the Bucks’ bench because Kay earned straight As. “Then he pointed to me. He gave me a thumbs-up and said he wanted a picture with me.”
Amber and Neia Kay waited around long after the game, and nearly all fans had exited, getting permission from a security guard to stand near the court. Finally, they got word that Antetokounmpo was ready to meet with them, and they headed back into the arena’s inner concourse.
After striking up a conversation, Antetokounmpo was quickly charmed by Kay’s personality and love for basketball. Upon learning Kay had missed out on seeing him play three straight years, Antetokounmpo extended the invitation of a lifetime.
“He looked at my mom and said, ‘Well, I’ll fly you out to Milwaukee so you can see me play,’” Kay said. “He told my mom, ‘Let me have your phone number. I’ll pay for your tickets, your flight and your hotel. You can pick any game you want — against LeBron (James), Steph (Curry), whoever.’”
Neia and Amber Kay both started to tear up.
“Don’t cry,” Antetokounmpo said as he gave Kay a big hug.
True to his word, Antetokounmpo had his assistant make all the arrangements with Amber Kay, who also was given the OK to bring her younger daughter, 6-year-old Kalli, on the trip.
The Kays flew to Milwaukee, and Antetokounmpo put on a show they’ll never forget. The 6-foot-11 power forward nicknamed “The Greek Freak” had a triple-double (37 points, 10 rebounds, 11 assists) in a 129-117 win over the Pacers in an NBA Cup game on Nov. 22.
Before the game the Kays were given VIP passes. They talked more with Antetokounmpo, the 2021 NBA Finals MVP, and Kay got to shoot around on the Bucks’ court. The Kays sat in the Bucks’ family section, in the same row as Antetokounmpo’s wife.
After the game Antetokounmpo took off his game jersey and size-17 shoes and gave them to Kay. He autographed the items and his rookie card for Kay’s cousin Harper McDaniel.
“I don’t want to go home,” Kay told her mom. “I don’t want this day to ever end.”
Antetokounmpo has been Kay’s favorite player since she started watching his games several years ago and saw a movie about his life story, growing up in Greece as the son of Nigerian immigrants.
The Kays’ trip is not only one of the most incredible fan interaction stories in area history, but also it was enjoyed by a girl who has a chance to be one of the area’s best-ever basketball players.
“Neia is far more advanced than any of the girls I’ve seen play at that age. She led our Buckeye Blast fall team to the Canton Fall League fifth-sixth grade championship, and we had a really young team. Her play at point guard and on-ball defense is elite,” said longtime coach and trainer Morgan Wenger, whose daughter Morghan, a Dalton student, also was on the Blast team. “She’s ranked among the top players in the country for her age.
“Those lists obviously don’t mean a player is going to the WNBA or even a Division I college, but they’re fun to look at.”
Kay’s father Gene Kay said he’s an Oklahoma City Thunder fan, but Antetokounmpo has moved way up on his list of favorite players.
“Neia deserves it; that’s all I kept thinking,” he said. “Her mom made it happen. She was determined to get them to meet or just get Giannis to recognize her at a game. I don’t think either of us thought this was gonna happen, but I think it’s pretty awesome that it did. Me personally, I feel like Giannis is not done. I feel like he got himself a new little buddy, but we’ll see how that plays out.”
Kay comes from a strong basketball family.
Brother Cayden McDaniel played at Orrville, and brother Case McDaniel is a sophomore for the Red Riders. When Kay doesn’t wear Giannis’ No. 34 jersey, she wears Cayden’s 12.
Her uncles Brian McDaniel (Orrville) and Corey McDaniel (Wooster) were standouts, as were cousins Danny Peters and Nye Brown at Wooster.
Antetokounmpo texted Amber Kay after the game asking how they enjoyed the night. He even sent a group photo a Bucks staff member took.
Wenger said it will be hard for Neia Kay to ever top the experiences of November 2024; however, she knows how to do it.
“I love playing basketball, and I want to make it to the WNBA one day,” Kay said.
Maybe Kay will sign her jerseys for fans in the future. If that’s the case, it’s a sure bet she will make sure Antetokounmpo gets one.