 The Beat, 12th Man Productions' all-access look into Texas A&M Athletics, airs Wednesdays at 4 p.m. on FOX Sports Southwest and 6:30 p.m. locally in College Station on KBTX-TV. |
We rise by lifting others.
On the court at Reed Arena, senior Curtyce Knox has lifted her team by holding the number one spot in assists nationally for the majority of the season.
Conversely, Knox received assistance from her team off the court and in her personal life.
When she revealed she was pregnant.
"The big thing was (thinking) I was letting my teammates down," Knox recalls. "You know, it was a very frustrating time. When I finally did tell my teammates they were so, so, so supportive. They were on my side."
"I was just so happy for her," teammate and junior Khaalia Hillsman said. "(Curtyce) Is a tough, tough lady. So I wasn't expecting anything less of her basketball career."
"6 a.m. workouts, I was there every morning with the team," Knox said. "When I did not work out, I was there supporting.
"(In) September I had Haven, and I was back on the court a month later."
The Humble, Texas native was moved by the love and support her team delivered once Haven entered the world.
"I think I cried the first time I saw her, she's so cute," Hillsman says with a smile. "She's just a bundle of joy. Every time she's around, it just lifts my mood. I saw her after a loss and I instantly felt better. She just makes my heart happy."
Still all business on the floor, Knox and her teammates learned life outside the gym could quickly change.
"I was in practice one day--I had individuals--and I look over and I have five of my teammates surrounding Haven trying to change a diaper," Knox recalls, laughing. "They learned that day."
Now the point guard has an extended family that reaches beyond her parents and Haven.
The new mother can lean on her teammates.
"I am blessed to be around so many people that were willing to help me out," Knox says. "They never judged…they were always, always, always by my side."
"She really means a lot to me, and I'm so glad she's getting what she deserves," Hillsman says, tearing up. "She's just like the best point guard, ever. She's a great mother. She gives Haven anything and everything she needs, and always goes above and beyond. And she always goes above and beyond for us. She didn't have to come back this year.
"I'm really glad she did."
Knox earned her bachelor's degree in 2016 and is currently pursuing a master's while donning the maroon and white.
"Curtyce is just accepted being a student-athlete, being a mother, and now adulthood," Hall of Fame coach Gary Blair said. "There are so many things that she can do. Opportunity has presented itself, and she's grabbed it. And now, I had no idea she could be this good on the basketball court."
Knox has risen to one of the SEC's premier players, being lifted by her teammates and the Texas A&M community.
As a parent, Curtyce hopes to help Haven ascend.
And has the same dream every mother has for her child.
"I just want her to grow up to be a strong person, to be able to handle adversity like I did…just to never give up. That's one thing that I thought about when I had her. Am I going to be able to do this? I had to be the example for her, to show her that I came back.
"Anything is possible."
