Nigel Hayes’s mother writes heartfelt letter thanking Wisconsin basketball fans

It’s pretty common for players who just finished their collegiate careers to pen a note on social media thanking fans, the university, their teammates, etc. (see: Vince Biegel, T.J. Watt, Ryan Ramczyk, and Zak Showalter).

For a parent to do so is possibly a little more uncommon.

Talaya Davis, the mother of Wisconsin forward Nigel Hayes, wrote and tweeted a heartfelt letter late Sunday night thanking fans, Wisconsin’s coaching staff, and the men’s basketball program. Her thoughts on former Wisconsin standout and prominent philanthropist/booster Albert “Ab” Nicholas are particularly touching.

Hayes undeniably left a mark on Wisconsin on the court. He also showcased a great influence off of it, as Matt Lepay—the voice of Wisconsin athletics—wrote Saturday.