MIAMI — Shaheen Holloway was the star point guard at Kyrie Irving’s high school before Kyrie Irving. As an assistant coach, Holloway nearly successfully recruited Irving to Seton Hall.

So there’s a longstanding connection between Irving and the new darling of the NCAA Tournament, Holloway, who coached tiny Saint Peter’s of Jersey City to the Elite 8.

“What a way to embrace New Jersey basketball, I will tell you that. I am grateful to see Shaheen doing his thing,” said Irving, who grew up in West Orange, N.J. “He recruited me when I was in high school. We all have great relationships amongst the New Jersey basketball culture.”

If both teams continue to advance, there’s a chance St. Peter’s faces Irving’s former team, Duke, in the Final 4. Irving wasn’t going to pick a potential rooting interest.

“I’m going to go for both teams,” Irving said. “I can’t lose on that.”

Holloway is already rumored to be the next head coach at Seton Hall, where he starred as a point guard and graduated in 2000.

“We’ll see what happens,” Irving said. “I’ve been a big supporter and a big fan of Seton Hall since I was like 11 years old. If I didn’t go to Duke that was probably the school I was going to go to and stay close to home. It’s like five minutes from where I grew up so if [Holloway] goes there, great. I just want him to be happy and move on to the next level. If that means continuing at Saint Peter’s or go somewhere else, I wish him the best.”

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