Cape Breton professor cheers on former student to NBA title with New York Knicks

A Cape Breton professor crossed paths with three future New York Knicks players.

Shauna MacDonald and her partner Jared Bishop’s university teaching careers have taken them to some interesting places.

“As a professor, I have taught at Villanova University and here at Cape Breton University,” said MacDonald, who teaches mostly in the communications department.

At Villanova, MacDonald and Bishop crossed paths with three men who, on Saturday night, helped the New York Knicks win their first NBA title in 53 years.

“Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart and Mikal Bridges; they were all familiar faces to me,” MacDonald said. “They all came through Villanova while I was there and that’s why they call them the ‘Nova Knicks.’”

MacDonald only taught Brunson, a breakout superstar in the playoffs who was named Finals MVP. He was a student in one of MacDonald’s communications classes in his sophomore year in the fall of 2016.

Nearly a decade later, MacDonald watched from her home in New Waterford, N.S., as he took home the championship trophy.

“I don’t even have to make anything up,” MacDonald said. “He was a solid student, he was committed to the work and just an all-around nice guy.”

New Waterford is very much a basketball community. Its Coal Bowl Classic is known across the country.

Born and raised in the area, MacDonald said this helps prove an adage that Cape Bretoners are everywhere.

“I think it does,” she said. “I think we are everywhere and certainly everywhere I have lived I’ve found Cape Bretoners so I think that’s true.”

MacDonald admitted Brunson may not remember her but said she was still happy to see her former student succeed on his sport’s biggest stage.

“I can take no credit for Jalen Brunson’s success or the ‘Nova Knicks’, but it is pretty darned cool to see them win,” she said.

For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page