Cork ace is making the jump to the next level in professional basketball

Adrian O'Sullivan, Ireland, in action against Birenbaum Raul, Luxembourg, last summer in the Mardyke. Picture: Larry Cummins
“As soon as I had one conversation with Alan it took off from there. I’d always wanted to try playing abroad, more than just being in America when I was very young for that one year. It’s the dream of every good Irish basketballer really. I didn’t want to live with a ‘what if?’”

“There are only two weeks in age between myself and Ronan and we’re each other’s biggest critics, outside of Ciarán, so we’re benefiting from that.”

O’Sullivan knows a bit about player development. A natural scorer, capable of driving to the hoop and shooting from deep from a young age, he had serious injury struggles as a teen.

“I’m one of the first professionals from Cork and the first from Ballincollig, so I’d love to think it’s paving the way that someone else from the Village can follow on, sooner rather than later.”

“I was bullied in ways when I was trying to mix it with those fellas at training because I was 19 in my first season, just turning 20, but it made me understand what it takes. There wasn’t a bad player in there. I was like a sponge.”

Given his own style he loves the NBA flair players in a sport of giants. Derrick Rose in his pomp with the Bulls, Kyrie Irving and Steph Curry now.

There’s also Duke under Coach K.
O’Sullivan feels Irish basketball is stronger than ever. Mark Keenan has replaced Pete Strickland as Irish men’s coach and will be eager to develop the next generation.

“Mark Keenan is coming in and rightly so because he’s proved himself in the Super League time and again and Templeogue have been brilliant lately. There is no competition this summer, it’ll be training camps and I just hope to stay involved having made the last two teams. There’s no feeling like wearing the green jersey.”
