Nia vs. Amir: Coffey siblings begin friendly rivalry for best in Big Ten

A friendly sibling rivalry is brewing in Big Ten basketball.

Nia Coffey nudged her little brother out of the spotlight Tuesday when the Northwestern senior forward from Hopkins was named the Big Ten Player of the Week. A week early Amir Coffey, also a former Hopkins star, earned his first weekly conference honor for the Gophers as the Big Ten Freshman of the Week.

Nia averaged 28 points, 7.5 rebounds, six assists and 2.5 steals per game with a 66.7 field-goal percentage last week in victories against ranked Florida and Evansville.

Amir was named the league's top freshman a week ago after averaging 16.7 points, four rebounds and 1.3 steals per game in the Gophers wins over UT Arlington, Mount St. Mary's and St. John's.

College accolades are nothing new for Nia. She has won Big Ten Player of the Week three times and was an All-America honorable mention and All-Big Ten First Team standout last season.

She was also the 2013 Star Tribune Metro Player of the Year and one of the nation's top recruits.

Amir, too, was the Star Tribune Metro Player of the Year in 2016 and one of the nation's top recruits. Now he is chasing the same success his sister has earned in college basketball and the Big Ten.

Here is a look at how the Coffey siblings stack up against one another after a hot start to the college basketball season:

Nia Coffey, Sr. Forward, Northwestern

Early season honors:
Preseason All-Big Ten Team
Nov. 28 Big Ten Player of the Week

By the numbers (through four games):
Averaging a double-double
22.5 points per game (team high)
90 total points (team high)
12 rebounds per game (team high)
55.8 field-goal percentage
32.5 minutes per game

Amir Coffey, Fr., Guard, Minnesota

Early season honors:
First Gophers freshman to score at least 30 points in a single game since Kris Humphries in 2004.
Nov. 21 Big Ten Freshman of the Week

By the numbers (through seven games):
Averaging 14.6 points per game (team high)
102 total points (team high)
Leads team with seven steals
3.1 rebounds per game
49.3 field-goal percentage
28.9 minutes per game

Despite any friendly competition, the Coffey siblings and family are big supporters of one another. Nia's Twitter profile picture is of the three Coffey siblings, including oldest sister Sydney, who also played college basketball at Marist College in New York.

Amir watched Nia go from freshman standout to one of the conference's top players and recently said "I'm pretty proud of her all she's done at her university. It is motivating because I want to do just as good as she's doing."

Their father is former Gophers standout Richard Coffey, who briefly played professionally with the Timberwolves.