Wichita State’s new recruit Darius Carter, a relative of NBA superstar Lebron James, isn’t the only bloodline running through WSU containing traces of hoop royalty.

It’s likely most college basketball fans have heard the name Andrew Wiggins long before his highly anticipated debut for the Kansas Jayhawks. Andrew is the highly touted No. 1 overall college basketball recruit who will play this season for KU. Andrew is expected to leave Kansas for the NBA, where he will probably be a high draft pick next year, after playing the minimum required one season of college hoops.

Andrew is the younger brother of WSU’s own Nick Wiggins, a talented junior college transfer and member of last year’s Final Four team.

Wiggins transferred to WSU after finishing the 2011-12 season as a second team All-American for Wabash County (Ill.) JUCO, where he averaged over 17 points per game. He was also recruited by Division I schools Oregon, Pittsburgh, Villanova and Baylor.

Wiggins grew up in Toronto, Can., before moving to Tallahassee, Fla., prior to his junior year to play for Godby High Prep School. Nick’s parents were also great athletes and are in the Florida State University Athletics Hall of Fame.

Wiggins says that his parents “were pretty much done” with athletics by the time he and his siblings came about.

“They were always there for us,” Wiggins said. “They are very supportive.”

Nick’s dad, Mitchell, played basketball two seasons at Florida State before being the 23rd overall pick in the draft beginning a nine-year on-and-off stint in the NBA during which he totaled nearly 3,900 points. Nick’s mom, Marita, was an All-American track star at Florida State before winning two Olympic Silver Medals for Canada. Nick also has an older brother, Mitchell Jr., who plays basketball at Southeastern University.

Nick had opportunities to play on teams that his dad coached. He said Mitchell Sr. coached him on a citywide team in Toronto, and other recreation league teams. Interestingly enough, Nick also played with both Mitchell Jr., who is close to Nick’s age, and Andrew, who is four years younger. Nick said Andrew always “played up” as a child.

“He was big enough and good enough,” Wiggins said. “He didn’t like being told ‘no’ and always wanted to show he could compete. I think that’s part of what made him the player he is today.”

Nick said his brother’s popularity has been an “eye-opening” experience. He is happy for his brother, although they are “very competitive.” Nick said he, “would love to play against him,” if he got the chance to play against Andrew in the next March Madness.

The two are close. Initially Andrew was leaning toward Kentucky, but Nick said he believes the close proximity to his brother “played a large part” in Andrew’s decision to attend Kansas. Andrew confirmed this in a recent interview with ESPN.

One might think that with all of the attention on last year’s Final Four run and his brother’s newfound success Nick would be distracted, but that’s not the case.

“I had my [Final Four] ring out for maybe a couple hours,” Wiggins said. “I showed my mom and then put it in a box in my room.”

Nick said he was comfortable playing as a Cinderella in last year’s tournament.

“I’ve always felt like — I’ve always been the underdog,” Wiggins said, “and a lot of the guys on this team are the same way. It’s a struggle coming up through JUCO, and there are always obstacles.”

Nick is ready to try to help lead this year’s team to another successful season.

“I’m ready to step up,” Wiggins said. “I feel like Demetric [Williams] and last year’s seniors left a great mark on me.”

Coach Gregg Marshall said they have been working a lot on defense and rebounding with Wiggins.

“Nick is better,” Marshall said. “Nick said he is going to ‘play hard and physical at both ends of the floor’ this year.”