The recruiting process was drastically different for Nia, who would constantly hear from some friends and other family members that she should pick the Gophers. Her younger brother, Amir, is starting to experience the same outside pressures as a sophomore at Hopkins.
Their father is trying hard not to influence Amir's decision.
"I have to take myself out of it," Richard Coffey said. "I need to make sure Amir chooses the right school for him. If that's the University of Minnesota, then that's where he'll be. But if that's Miami or Indiana or Virginia or Syracuse, then he's going to end up there. He has to create his own history wherever it is."
At 6 feet 6, Amir has point-guard skills in a small forward's body. He is ranked as high as the No. 8 player in the 2016 class by Scout.com and already has scholarship offers from Minnesota, Indiana and Iowa State.
"Actually, I've talked to him a little bit about it so far," Nia Coffey said. "I told him to make sure you don't listen to other people's opinions and just really get to know the coaches and players by taking some visits. I said to find a place you feel comfortable, where you can be successful. He's already being heavily recruited now, so he's still getting used to that part."
After their older sister went off to college last year, Amir and Nia became even closer. One experience they shared was trying out for USA basketball's youth national teams in Colorado Springs, Colo.
Amir didn't make the Under-16 team. Nia ended up being part of the squad that won a gold medal at the FIBA Under-19 World Championships in Lithuania.
