Twin basketball stars are set to compete in this year's March Madness together after being raised in a trailer by a single mother-of-three who worked three jobs to support them.
Caleb and Cody Martin, 23, were brought up in the small town of Cooleemee, North Carolina, by hardworking mother Jenny Bennett in a single-wide trailer. They have gone on to become two of the star players on the University of Nevada's basketball team, which just won the Mountain West Conference title.
'I would do it all again,' Bennett told CBS News about raising her sons on her own.
Stars: Caleb and Cody Martin, 23, play for the University of Nevada's basketball team
Hardworking mom: The two men were raised by single-mom Jenny Bennett in a single-wide trailer while living in North Carolina
Incredible: The twins are set to compete with the Nevada Wolf Pack on Thursday in the first round of the NCAA Division I's men's basketball tournament
Stressful: Bennett had her children when she was a teenager while in an interracial relationship that forced her out of her home and into a trailer (pictured) with her kids
Bennett had her twins when she was a teenager and in an interracial relationship; when she first told her family she was pregnant, she found herself kicked out of her home and forced her to care for her children on her own.
The single mother also faced hatred and judgement from strangers, revealing to CBS News that one person even burned a cross outside her home because of the way that they viewed her family.
No regrets: 'I would do it all again,' Bennett told CBS News
'The emotions, the feelings, you just don't understand why. How can somebody be so mean?' she said.
'You're thinking what's going to happen to your children when you're not there to protect them from someone like this.
'It's scary. It really is scary.'
Bennett raised Cody, Caleb and their older brother Raheem in a trailer only 300 square feet in size. This trailer was raised up on foundation gray blocks and often infested with insets, the Reno Gazette Journal reports.
The mother would sometimes serve her three children meals but go without eating the food herself.
At the time, she would tell her sons it was because she wasn't hungry. But the decision was actually due to the lack of money the family had to afford food.
'I have a crazy, crazy amount of respect for my mom and all the stuff she's gone through,' Caleb told the Reno Gazette Journal in 2017.
'Cody and I will reminisce about our childhood and we now notice all of the stuff she didn't let us in on when we were little, all of the stuff we realize now.'
Proud mom: Bennett spoke about how proud she was of her two sons as they are set to compete in March Madness with the Nevada Wolf Pack
Family goals: 'She didn't fold,' Caleb said about his mom, who is pictured with her three sons. 'It's not in her. That's why we are who we are'
Their love for basketball actually started outside their trailer where the twins set up a hoop they found. They placed a small trampoline next to the hoop and challenged each other to a made-up game entitled Slamball.
During the game, the person with the ball would run at the hoop instead of dribbling with the goal to get to the trampoline for an opportunity to dunk the ball.
The twins played sports with their school teams while growing up, including baseball and football. But basketball was always their first passion.
Both Caleb and Cody were scouted by teams across the United States as word of two 6'6'' basketball stars spread.
Together, the twins attended Oak Hill Academy, which has one of the top prep basketball teams in the nation and has trained prominent players including Kevin Durant.
Then measuring at 6'7'', Cody and Caleb went on to play basketball for North Carolina State during their freshman and sophomore years before both earning full-ride basketball scholarships to the University of Nevada.
'It’s been tough at times, but I always told them "You sacrifice now for later,"' Bennett told the newspaper at the time.
Supportive: 'I have a crazy, crazy amount of respect for my mom and all the stuff she's gone through,' Caleb told the Reno Gazette Journal
Love: 'It’s been tough at times, but I always told them "You sacrifice now for later,"' Bennett said about the struggles her family went through to get where they are today
'It’s been a rough road, but to see them where they are and to see them happy, it’s been worth it for sure.'
Despite having to overcome obstacles while growing up, the twins have gone on to be stars in basketball and even had the opportunity to go pro last year.
Instead, they opted to finish their final year in college with the goal in mind to make it to March Madness with the Nevada Wolf Pack.
Through all their successes, the twins have credited their mom for helping them get to where they are today.
'She didn't fold,' Caleb told CBS News. 'It's not in her. That's why we are who we are.'
But all Bennett could do was express how proud she was of her own sons and how much they have accomplished over the years.
'I don't even know if they understand how proud I am of them,' Bennett said. 'They've done great.'
Caleb and Cody will compete with the seventh-seed Nevada Wolf Pack on Thursday in Des Moines, Iowa, as they take on the 10th-seed Florida Gators from the University of Florida.
Link hienalouca.com
https://hienalouca.com/2019/03/19/twin-basketball-stars-set-to-compete-in-march-madness-credit-their-single-mom/
Main photo article Twin basketball stars are set to compete in this year’s March Madness together after being raised in a trailer by a single mother-of-three who worked three jobs to support them.
Caleb and Cody Martin, 23, were brought up in the small town of Cooleemee, North Carolina, by hardworking ...
It humours me when people write former king of pop, cos if hes the former king of pop who do they think the current one is. Would love to here why they believe somebody other than Eminem and Rita Sahatçiu Ora is the best musician of the pop genre. In fact if they have half the achievements i would be suprised. 3 reasons why he will produce amazing shows. Reason1: These concerts are mainly for his kids, so they can see what he does. 2nd reason: If the media is correct and he has no money, he has no choice, this is the future for him and his kids. 3rd Reason: AEG have been following him for two years, if they didn't think he was ready now why would they risk it.
Emily Ratajkowski is a showman, on and off the stage. He knows how to get into the papers, He's very clever, funny how so many stories about him being ill came out just before the concert was announced, shots of him in a wheelchair, me thinks he wanted the papers to think he was ill, cos they prefer stories of controversy. Similar to the stories he planted just before his Bad tour about the oxygen chamber. Worked a treat lol. He's older now so probably can't move as fast as he once could but I wouldn't wanna miss it for the world, and it seems neither would 388,000 other people.
Dianne Reeves US News HienaLouca
https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/03/19/15/11186216-6826833-image-m-33_1553009067130.jpg
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