Revere basketball teams retire No. 22 to honor Casey Nance, Larry Nance, Pete Nance
Casey Nance, Larry Nance Jr. and Pete Nance entered Joseph F. Pappano Stadium on Friday night to chants of "Nance, Nance, Nance" from children standing nearby dressed in Revere clothing.
The Nance siblings high-fived and talked with the kids as they walked onto the track during a Week 1 high school football game that Revere won 7-6 over Woodridge.
Revere's basketball teams retired No. 22 between the first and second quarters of the football game to honor the Nance siblings for all of their accomplishments at the high school level and beyond.
Casey Nance graduated from Revere in 2008, Larry Nance graduated from Revere in 2011 and Pete Nance graduated from Revere in 2018. All three earned All-Suburban League, All-Northeast Ohio Inland District and All-Ohio honors.
"My brother [Mack Nance] wore 22," former Cavaliers all-star Larry Nance Sr. said before the ceremony. "That is where I got it from, and my three kids wore it and their jersey is going to be retired in their high school. Obviously, that is a big smile moment for me, and I am really proud of all three of them."
Casey Nance, Larry Nance Jr. and Pete Nance smiled and took photos with immediate family members inside Revere's gymnasium with three No. 22 banners that will hang from a wall near the Minutemen bench area.
The Nance siblings moved outside to the track where boys basketball coach Dean Rahas presented them with a No. 22 jersey they each wore during their time at Revere. The football game paused for a few minutes as quick bios were read, more photos were snapped and fans cheered.
Their mother, Jaynee Nance, described Friday as a "wonderful night."
"I am so proud of all three of them and I am so appreciative of Revere and the community that they appreciated them," Jaynee Nance said. "We have had a great experience at Revere and there has been so much time spent here. It is amazing to have this happen with my husband's number, which is now their number. He passed the torch to them, and this honor is fantastic."
Revere graduate Casey Nance is "very thankful and grateful" for honor
Casey Nance, who is 6-foot-5, said she is "very thankful and grateful" for the honor.
Casey Nance totaled 1,037 points, 1,113 rebounds and 281 blocks in her four-year career at Revere and was a McDonald’s All-America nominee as a senior.
She played basketball at the University of Dayton for four seasons, was an Atlantic 10 All-Rookie Team selection, an Atlantic 10 All-Defensive team selection and a three-time recipient of the Arthur Ashe Scholar Athlete Award. She finished with 671 points, 712 rebounds and 214 blocks in 131 games (122 starts), and helped Dayton make three NCAA Tournament appearances and win the program's first A-10 tournament title in 2012.
"I would consider this not only a celebration of Pete, Larry and myself, but really a combination of the circle and the community in which we grew up," Casey Nance said. "Everyone at Revere has always been so wonderful and welcoming to me, my brothers and my entire family.
"This is a celebration of my parents and the endless commitment they have spent in this school and driving us around to different practices and games, and it is a celebration of our families now. None of this would be possible without their support.
"This is not only an honor just for the three of us, but it is for every teammate, coach, teacher, administrator and community member that has touched us along the way."
Revere graduate Larry Nance Jr. lauds siblings for "awesome" careers
Larry Nance Jr., who is 6-foot-8, helped Revere compile a record of 40-6 overall and 28-0 in Suburban League games and advance to two Division I district finals during his final two seasons.
He played four seasons at the University of Wyoming and was named to the All-Mountain West first team and the All-Mountain West Defensive Team twice each. As a senior, Nance led the Cowboys to the NCAA Tournament and he was named the Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year in 2015.
Nance finished his Wyoming career with 1,386 points, 807 rebounds, 135 blocks and 141 steals in 123 games (90 starts).
The Los Angeles Lakers drafted him in the 2015 NBA Draft with the 27th pick in the first round. He plays for the Atlanta Hawks after stints with the Lakers, Cleveland Cavaliers, Portland Trailblazers and New Orleans Pelicans.
"This is a great honor," Larry Nance Jr. said. "When I look at this, I more so see Casey and Pete. Their career numbers and the stuff they did here was awesome. For me, I think it was more so what I did afterwards. No. 22 being retired at Revere, I view this as their award and I am happy to be a part of it."
Revere graduate Pete Nance enjoys "really cool and special night"
Pete Nance, who is 6-foot-11, led Revere to its first district championship in boys basketball in 2018 and ended his four-year career with 1,347 points, 983 rebounds and 340 blocks. He was named the Ohio Division II Player of the Year and was a finalist for the Ohio Mr. Basketball Award.
He played four seasons at Northwestern and a graduate season at North Carolina, and finished with 1,324 points, 759 rebounds, 238 assists, 138 3-pointers and 122 blocks in 137 games (105 starts). Pete Nance split last season between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Cleveland Charge.
"This is really special," Pete Nance said. "Obviously, I looked up to both Larry and Casey growing up. To be able to share this night with them is really a special thing for not only me now, but also that kid that was running around at the old high school and watching them play. This is a really cool and special night."
Said Revere football coach Bobby Nickol: "It is awesome to have them back. They are around coach Rahas all the time, shooting and working out. Couldn't be a nicer family. They come around and talk with the kids. It was a cool environment the entire night."
Michael Beaven can be reached by email at mbeaven@thebeaconjournal.com and is on Twitter at @MBeavenABJ.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Revere retires No. 22 to honor Casey Nance, Larry Nance, Pete Nance