Michigan’s Katelynn Flaherty will tell you how to score like she does

Real Life Love & Basketball

Barnes Arico first heard about Flaherty before she ever saw her play.

Barnes Arico was coaching St. John’s at the time and her husband was coaching Division III football in New Jersey. Larry Arico told his wife people were buzzing about “this legend down at the shore that was going to be the next great whatever.”

“It wound up being Katelynn Flaherty,” Barnes Arico said. “She was in the third grade. Katelynn was a legend in the state from a very, very young age.”

The only child of two former college basketball players, Flaherty grew up in gyms in her hometown of Point Pleasant, New Jersey.

Her family has pictures of baby Katelynn cradled in her father’s arms on the sideline while he coaches the New Jersey Demons AAU team. Before long, Flaherty was dribbling around the court and hoisting shots during timeouts.

“She was this little thing going through layup lines with the older girls,” Flaherty’s mother, Lynn, said. “Kindergarten was the first time she played in an organized game with referees. She laughs because we had to lie and say she was in first grade to play in the league.”

Flaherty’s father, Tom, has been her coach since day one. They’ve spent thousands of hours on the courts together, going through drills, perfecting her shot and playing pickup games.

Tom Flaherty played at Seton Hall in the 1970s. His coach was Bill Raftery, the insightful analyst known for his colorful catchphrases and excitability during broadcasts.

Earlier this year, Raftery was calling the Michigan men’s game against UCLA when Katelynn spotted him from the stands.

“I went down to talk to him at halftime and he remembered my dad,” she said. “It was the first time I had met him. He shouted me out during the game after halftime. That was really cool.”

Flaherty’s parents were basketball lovebirds.

Tom—seven years older than Lynn—was a substitute teacher and boys basketball coach at Lynn’s high school. She saw him on the outdoor court playing one afternoon and was smitten.

“I had never seen someone dribble like that before,” Lynn recalled. “I met him down at the courts during pickup games. He would pick me on his team. At the time everyone thought, ‘Why is this girl playing?’”

The two kept in touch while Lynn played at The College of New Jersey, and started dating after she graduated. They eventually married, and returned to the court where they met before taking their vows.

Surrounded by bridesmaids and groomsmen, they posed for a picture at center court–Lynn in her wedding dress and Tom in his tuxedo.

“It was like a team photo on our wedding day,” Lynn said with a laugh.