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Dungannon
Coach: Carlos Frade
- Earned his coaching stripes in Spain
- Assistant coach, Leicester Riders 1999-2000
- Previously coached in Japan and Spanish Division 3Players in:
Jermaine Turner
Height: 6’5” Age: 26 Position: Fwd/Centre
Nationality: American
Played last season: Dowling College
Charles Amerson
Height: 6’8” Age: 25 Position: Forward
Nationality: American
Played last season: Bunker Hill College, BostonKieran Goodacre
Height: 6’5” Age: 21 Position: Small Forward
Played last season: Leicester RidersJose Luis Supervia
Height: 6’3” Age: 24 Position: Point-Guard
Nationality: Spanish
Played last season: El Olivar (Spain)Players out: Gary Connolly (Star of the Sea)
Last Season: 14th ESB SuperLeague
Prediction: Frankie O’Loane has stepped down from the helme at Dungannon and Carlos Frade takes up the challenge this season. Frade arrived from Spain with point-guard Supervia in tow, and also brought Kieran Goodacre from Leicester Riders. The guts of last season’s team remain, including star guard Trevor Smullen. If their new American signings live up to their pre-season reputation, Dungannon could prove to be one of the dark horses of this season.
Tolka Rovers
Coach: Owen McKeown
- Back for his second year at Tolka Rovers
- Former St. Vincent’s National League star and captain.
- Former Irish International and Senior Men’s CaptainPlayers in:
Javier Bravjo Jimenee
Height: 6’6” Age: 24 Position: Forward
Nationality: Spanish
Played last season: Qualat (Spanish 1st Division)
Jay “Fuzzy” Fazandes
Height: 6’4” Age: 24 Position: Forward
Nationality: American
Played last season: Did not play
Jerome played ESB SuperLeague with MSB during the 1998/1999 season. “Fuzzy” is a team player with a killer three-point shot.Neal McCotter
Height: 6’ Age: 22 Position: Guard
Played last season: Star of the Sea
Neal played with Tolka during the ‘98/’99 season, but returned to Star of the Sea last season. He is back working in Dublin this year and back with Tolka.Players out: None
Last Season: 9th ESB SuperLeague, Semi-Final Sprite CupPrediction: Randal Mounts returns for his third season with Tolka Rovers. The club had a good season last year, finishing 9th, having finished bottom of the table in 1998/1999. Irish stars Paddy Boylan and the Quill brothers impressed last season and Tolka hope to build on last season’s form. Tolka stars Jay Fazandes returns to National League action after a year out, but bad news for Tolka with Joey Hasstrup missing the start of the season with injury. Will be aiming for a better position than last season and should finish around mid-table.
Burger King Limerick
Coach: Tommy Hehir
Players in:
Tliotis Brown
Height: 6’5” Age: 26 Position: Forward
Nationality: American
Played last season: University of Illinois
Joe Kilroy
Height: 6’5” Age: 25 Position: Guard/Forward
Nationality: American
University: Cumberland University
Played last season: Kentucky S.R.Matthew Hall
Height: 5’10” Age: 25 Position: Guard
Played last season: Taunton Tigers
Profile: League Championship medal with Cardiff 1996
Championship Playoffs with Taunton 1998
Won two NBL Division 1 Player of the Month awards .
Neill Campbell
Height: 6’4” Age: 17 Position: Guard
Played last season: Burger King Limerick U19Thomas Walsh
Height: 6’3 Age: 23 Position: Guard
Played last season: Stonehill College M.A.
Greg Duffy
Height: 6’4” Position: Guard
Played last season: BurgerKing Limerick U19
Stephen Kelly
Height: 6’3” Position: Guard
Played last season: BurgerKing Limerick U19
Players out: Mike Norris – transferred to Waterford CrystalLast Season: 13th ESB SuperLeague
Prediction: Burger King Limerick’s position in the league table last season doesn’t reflect how the team performed. A couple of close defeats saw them drop down the table, but Limerick were very competitive last season. This year, they need to ensure they are on the right side of any close results and a position within the top 8 is what they will be aiming for.
Limerick have traditionally had good American signings, it remains to be seen if Tommy Hehir has hit the jackpot again. Should make the top 10, if not the top 8 this season.
O’Hagan Saints (formerly St. Vincent’s)
Coach: Joey Boylan
Players in:
Pierre Shuptlesworth
Height: 6’7” Age: 23 Position: Fwd/Centre
Nationality: American
Played last season: Chicago
Maurice Carter
Height: 6’5” Age: 25 Position: Fwd/Centre
Nationality: Canadian
Played last season: Canadian BBLPlayers out: None
Last Season: 3rd ESB SuperLeague
Prediction: Saints have one of the strongest Irish panels in the League and if they can find the right American combination this season, they will definitely be league contenders. ESB Player of the Year Stephen McGuirk had probably his best season to date last year. If he can retain that form, and both the Donnelly brothers stay fit, Saints will be tough to beat. Notorious for having a bad start to the season, Saints will be hoping that the move to new gym DCU can see them get in a winning groove from the first game. Real title contenders.
Thorn Killester
Coach: Mark Ingle
- First season with Killester
- Former coach of Tolka Rovers
- Led Tolka Rovers to semi-final of Sprite cup in 1999
- Coached ESB Regional League side Mercy CollegePlayers in:
John Quigley
Height: 6’5 Age: 28 Position: Small Forward
Played last season: Queens Graduates
Previous Clubs: Tolka Rovers, Ballina, Sligo, Killester
Profile: John, a former Junior International, has played with a number of clubs. Killester were his first National League club.
Adrian Fulton
Height: 5’10” Age: 29 Position: Guard
Played last season: Star of the Sea
Profile: Adrian has 49 caps for Ireland at Senior level and was also a Junior and Schools International. He joins Killester after a long and successful association with Star of the Sea where he won 2 league medals and 3 national championships medals. He was the Player of the Year in 1997.Eric J. Jackson
Height: 6’4” Age: 22 Position: Power Forward
Nationality: American
Played last season: Florida Institute of TechnologyJohn Leahy
Height: 6’7” Age: 29 Position: Forward
Nationality: American
Played last season: Star of the Sea
Profile: John is a National League pro having played four seasons with Star of the Sea winning two league medals and three National Championship medals. He was the ESB Foreign Player of the Year in 1998 and a winner of the ESB Player of the Month award.Damian Sealy
Height:6’4” Age: 29 Position: Forward
Played last season: Denny Notre Dame
Profile: A former International player, Sealy is originally from Waterford and his younger brother Darren plays with Waterford Crystal. Played previously with Killester before transferring to Denny with whom he won 4 Sprite Cup medals.Players out: None
Last Season: 7th ESB SuperLeague
Prediction: Killester are without underage stars Conor Tolan and Simon Behan this year - both are in Junior College in the US. The signing of Irish International Adrian Fulton and the return of Damian Sealy and John Quigley to the squad gives their already strong side an added boost. It remains to be seen how the new players and regular squad gel as a team this season under new coach Mark Ingle. Veteran Jerome Westbrooks will miss the start of the season due to an achilles heel injury. If the mix works – they will be top four contenders.
Hibernian UCD Marian
Coach: Kieran Dunne
Players in:
Chris Akers
Height: 6’7” Age: 25 Position: Power/Centre
Nationality: American
University: Amherst College, MA
Played last season: Gotham City Knights, NY
Kevin Ward
Height: 6’8” Age: 27 Position: Centre/Forward
Nationality: American
University: George Mason, Virginia
Played last season: DNPBarry Glover
Height: 6’5” Age: 18 Position: Small Forward
Played last season: Marian U19 squad
Profile: ESB International Player of the Year in 2000 and Junior Schoolboy of the Year in 1998. At just 18, Barry Glover is already one of the most experienced players around. Stepping up to the National League panel for the first time, he will only play home games this season as he is currently repeating his leaving certificate.Players out: None
Last Season: 8th ESB SuperLeague
Prediction: If pre-season reports are anything to go by, Marian look strong this season. U19 stars Kevin Meany and Mark Hargadon are now playing full time with the squad, with Barry Glover joining for home games. The two American players appear to fit in well with the squad and Marian look like a cohesive unit ahead of the season tip-off. Lost seven games by 1 point two seasons ago, and were similarly unlucky last season. If they can beat this jinx, they should be up their challenging for a top 4 spot.
Esat Telecom Demons
Coach: Dommie Mullins
- Coached Kerry Spring Killarney last season.
- Former Assistant Coach to the Irish Junior Men
- Previously coached Donoughmore ladies team.Players in:
Tobe Carberry
Height: 6’2” Age: 22 Position: Guard/Forward
Nationality: American
Played last season: University of Vermont
Profile: The word in Cork is that this guy is going to be THE hottest player in the ESB League this season. He reached the NCAA Final Four with Vermont last season.
Juan Wiley
Height: 6’6” Age: 23 Position: Forward
Nationality: American
Played last season: University of South Carolina
Profile: Was Player of the Year in his conference in 1999 and was All American D2 Player of the Year in 1999.Michael Carlos
Height: 6’ Age: 18 Position: Guard
Played last season: Iona
Profile: Michael is a former Junior International. He competed in the European Championships in 1999 and the FCIT in 2000.
Contd.
Hugo Iturralde
Height: 6’8” Age: 28 Position: Forward/Centre
Nationality: Spanish
University: University of Leon
Played last season: Lugo (Spanish Division 1)
Profile: Hugo impressed in Neptune’s pre-season tournament. An excellent rebounder, he won the Leading Rebounder Award in the Spanish D1 in 1994 and was the 2nd Best Championships all-rounder in 1993.Andreas Larson
Height: 6’7” Age: 25 Position: Forward
Nationality: Swedish
Played last season: Angered Basketball (Swedish Division 1)Players out:
Mark Cambridge - to Intermediate team
Timmy Halloran - to Intermediate teamLast Season: 2nd ESB SuperLeague
Prediction: On paper, Esat Telecom Demons certainly look like the team to beat. For the third season in a row they have a Spanish player on their side. At 6’8” Hugo Iturralde is a huge presence inside for Demons and looks set to become one of the leading rebounders in the league. Tobe Carberry did not play in the pre-season tournament, but is rumoured to be “hot” They retain the guts of their Irish panel from last season and have added Michael Carlos, a talented guard who shone for the Irish Junior Men’s team this year.
The title may be on it’s way back to Cork, but this year, Demons think it’s heading their way. Will be tough to beat.
Abbey Foods Sligo
Coach: Tom Hickey
- Former Sligo All Stars player – first year coaching National League.
- Has coached at Schools level in Sligo for years
- Former Irish International
- Played with Crystal Palace in the UK LeaguePlayers in:
Victor Ebong
Height: 6’8” Age: 22 Position: Forward
Nationality: American
Played last season: North Carolina Wilmington
Chad Holmes
Height: 6’9” Age: 23 Position: Centre
Nationality: American
Played last season: Davidson College, North Carolina
Players out: None
Last Season: 10th ESB SuperLeague
Prediction: Sligo’s two new Americans are reputed to be very strong. Holmes is just out of Davidson where he played alongside Sligo’s own Michael Bree. After a poor start last season, they jumped from bottom of the table to 10th in the last week of the league last year. They will be aiming to ensure they stay above the bottom half of the table this season and get closer to the top 8.
Neptune
Coach: Gerry Fitzpatrick
Players in:
Bryan Finley
Height: 6’4” Age: 22 Position: Forward
Nationality: American
Played last season: Central Connecticut State University
Charron Watson
Height: 6’7” Age: 23 Position: Forward
Nationality: American
Played last season: Central Connecticut State UniversityNick Chatzinikolis
Height: 6’8” Age: 25 Position: Forward/Centre
Nationality: Greek Canadian
University: York University
Played last season: Plymouth
Profile: Nick played with Neptune during the 1998/1999 season.Vince Daly
Height: 6’4” Age: 27 Position: Forward
Played last season: Kerry Spring KillarneyPlayers out: N/A
Last Season: ESB SuperLeague champions.
Prediction: Neptune face into a tough defence of their title. Without the dynamic duo of Rasuel and Ricardo, much will depend on the Americans they recruit this season. The addition of Vince Daly from Killarney will greatly strengthen their bench as will the return of Nick Chatzinikolis. Fresh from his summer competing in the European Championships with the Irish Senior Men, team captain Stephen McCarthy - looking lean and fit pre-season - could be the difference in whether or not the title returns to Neptune. Will find it tougher than last season to take the league title.
Star of the Sea
Coach: Darren O’Neill
Players in:
Kenny McFarland
Height: 6’6” Age: 26 Position: Fwd/Centre
Nationality: American
University: St. Bonaventure and American International College, MA
Gary Connolly
Height: 6’3” Age: 27 Position: Forward
Played last season: DungannonGabe Jackson
Height: 6’5” Age: 28 Position: Forward
Nationality: American
University: Robert Morris College
Played last season: Star of the SeaPlayers out: Adrian Fulton (Killester)
Neal McCotter (Tolka Rovers)Last Season: 4th ESB SuperLeague
Prediction: Star of the Sea start this season without both John Leahy and Adrian Fulton – but then they started last season without them too! Both players are now with Killester. Gabe Jackson returns for a second consecutive season – but his fourth overall with the club. Star may find it difficult to relocate the form that saw them take two consecutive league titles – but one to watch is emerging star Ciaran Burns who steps up from the U19 team this season.
Big Al’s Notre Dame
Coach: Anthony Jenkins
Players in:
Brandon Hughes
Height: 6’ Age: 22 Position: Point Guard
Nationality: American
Played last season: Newberry College, SC
Profile: Voted “Player of the Year” in his NCAA conference in 1999
Selected to the second team All American in 1999.
Feliciano Dilson Bernardo Camacho
Height: 6’4” Age: 19 Position: Forward
Nationality: Portuguese
Played last season: Benefcia U19 (Portuguese League)
Profile: Member of the Portuguese Junior Men’s teamNuno Alexandre Pereira Da Silveira
Height: 6’9” Age: 29 Position: Forward/Centre
Nationality: Portuguese
Played last season: Estrecias Da Avenida (C.R.E.A. league)Players out:
Ciaran Dempsey - Year out
James O’Dwyer - to Wheatfield Dublin Division 1
Damian Sealy - Transferred to Thorn Killester
Brian Benjamin - move
Eamonn Gallagher
Last Season: 5th ESB SuperLeague, Sprite Cup champions, ESB National ChampionsPrediction: Big Al’s Notre Dame are without five of the players from last seasons double winning side. New American point guard Brandon Hughes is promising, but they will miss the talented Junior Player of the Year Ciaran Dempsey. A number of U19 stars from last season have stepped up this year. Having stamped their authority on the cup, they now want their name on the league trophy.
St. Paul’s Killarney
Coach: Carl Fleming
- Carl previously was Head coach in 1998/1999Players in: Doreen “Stretch” Robinson
Height: 6’7” Age: 23 Position: Fwd/Centre
Nationality: American
Played last season:
Profile: Stretch hails from New York and is a cousin of Spurs NBA star David Robinson.
Douglas Hines
Height: 6’7” Age: 25 Position: Forward
Nationality: American
Played last season:Players out:
Vince Daly - Transferred to Neptune
John Teahan - Transferred to Frosties TigersLast Season: 6th ESB SuperLeague
Prediction: St. Paul’s Killarney have lost two key players in Vince Daly and John Teahan and have promoted a number of their underage players to National League this season. Carl Fleming is back in charge after a year out. May struggle while their younger players find their feet in the National Leagues.
Waterford Crystal
Coach: Michael Evans
Players in:
Eric Blair
Height: 6’6” Age: 33 Position: Forward
Nationality: American
Played last season: Denny Notre Dame
Profile: Eric has played with no less than six National League teams during his time here in Ireland. Played with Waterford Crystal during the 1998/1999 season and claimed the ESB Foreign Player of the Year award. Won a Sprite Cup and ESB National Championship medal with Denny Notre Dame last season.
Stacey Massiah
Height: 6’8” Age: 22 Position: Forward
Nationality: American
Played last season: Keane State College NH
Profile: Averaged 27pts, 20rbds, 9 assts, 12 blocks in his last year at college.Mike Norris
Height: 6’3” Age: 25 Position: Guard
Nationality: Irish American
Played last season: BurgerKing LimerickJoe Malone
Height: 6’10” Age: 22 Position: Forward
Played last season: Piltown B.C., KilkennyLast Season: 11th ESB SuperLeague
Prediction: Waterford Crystal had a dream season in their debut year in the ESB League as Eric Blair led them to r-up spot in the league. Crystal are hoping that Blair can weave his magic again this season and help them seal a place in the top 6 of the league.
Clare Jets
Coach: TBC
Players in:
Lester Hunt
Height: 6’8” Age: Position: Forward/Centre
Nationality: American
Played last season: Clare Jets
Profile: This is Lesters second season with Clare Jets and he previously played National League with BurgerKing Limerick.
Donald Edge
Height: 6’8” Age: 22 Position: Forward
Nationality: American
Played last season:
Players out: N/A
Last Season: 12th ESB SuperLeague
Prediction: Clare Jets have still to confirm their full line up for the season, but unless they can strengthen their panel from last season, they are likely to struggle to improve their league position.
Tralee Tigers
Coach: Dave Falvey
Players in:
Robbie Turner
Height: 6’2” Age: 26 Position: Guard
Nationality: American
Played last season: Kerry Spring Killarney
Profile: Turner is now in his fourth season in Irish Basketball – all of which he has spent in Kerry. Before moving to Tralee, he has played with Castleisland and Killarney.
Roscoe Patterson
Height: 6’6” Age: Position: Forward
Nationality: American
Played last season: Waterford CrystalJohn Teahan
Height: 6’0’’ Age: 29 Position: 2 Guard
Nationality: American
Played last season: Kerry Spring Killarney
Profile: This is John’s tenth season playing the ESB Mens League. Previously played with Tralee and transferred to Killarney when Tralee dropped to Division 1.Players out: N/A
Last Season: 9th position ESB Men’s First Division
Prediction: There is a new team on the block this season. After two years in Division 1, the 1996 League Champions Tralee Tigers return as Frosties Tigers. They’ve signed Ricardo Leonard, the man who led them to success in ’96. Leonard is joined by experienced league regulars Roscoe Patterson and Robbie Turner. With this strong American trio, the talent of underage star Michael Quirke and the return of former Irish International John Teahan, Frosties Tigers look intent on making a mark in their first season back in the big time.
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