Jack Scannell and Rory O'Flynn living the dream playing basketball in a different country

Two young Cork lads and lifelong friends, Jack Scannell and Rory O’Flynn, are living the dream by playing basketball in two different countries after a decade playing together with the Ballincollig Basketball Club.

Jack has now brought his skills to Surrey, where he plays with the college and second men’s team.

Jack has a rich basketball family background, as his father is Mark, the former senior women’s senior Irish and present Glanmire ladies Super League coach, and his sisters, Jessica and Clodagh, also had stellar basketball careers, both playing and on the coaching front in America, Australia and Canada respectively.

While in Surrey Jack will be also studying for an PT Level 3 Course and once he graduates there, that will benefit him as he makes a decision whether he will take up an offer of going to play Stateside or continue his education at UCC in the autumn of 2025.

“First of all, I am grateful to coach Llyod Gardner, who is the head coach of Surrey 89er’s professional team for inviting me to join the club,” Jack said.

“This is a whole different experience than what I was used to at home in Cork.

"It has totally taken me out of my comfort zone. I had to grow up really fast as I had to cook and do my own laundry, so you could say I really missed my mum Susan when I arrived here for a couple of weeks. 

"However, I live in a player's house with six other young guys and we all help one another with different things, which made me settle in a lot faster.

“On basketball side of things, it was an eye-opener for me, however, I find it really rewarding. 

"We have our own personal trainers that look at everything from our diet to what weighs we lift every day. 

"We practice five days a week and play a game every Saturday with the club, but we also could play college games midweek, so it is a hectic schedule. 

"We are around the professional players in practice every day and just to see the way they look after themselves is rubbing off on all of us young lads.

“I want to thank my parents and sisters who are always very supportive towards me, and also my coaches at Ballincollig and the North Mon AG as I would never been able to reach my goals without them,” Scannell added.

Rory O’Flynn is now treading the hardwood in New York with the Darrow School which is a co-educational college-preparatory school that prepares their athletes for college life. 

After spending most of his underage career with Ballincollig and having played with various Irish programs, Rory is now taking his game to a new level and not looking to far into the future as he wants to enjoy his new surroundings and concentrate on helping his team mates in making the play-offs and try achieve success by winning some silverware.

When the season is finished he hopes to play with the Irish U20 side in the European Championships and then he will sit down with his parents to decide the next step in his playing career.

“I played basketball with Ballincollig all of my underage career before I decided to go to the States,” Rory said.

“Last summer, I represented Ireland's U18 national team at the European Championships, and also last season I made my Super League debut with Ballincollig.

“Right now, I'm playing in Upstate New York, playing for 'The Darrow School' in the competitive NEPSAC AA conference.

“Transitioning to basketball in the States was quite the eye-opener, with noticeable differences in physicality, strength, and fitness. 

"It took some time, but by the beginning of the season, I adapted to their pace and style of play. 

"Adjusting my play style to compete with taller and stronger players has been an exciting challenge, and I've seen significant improvements in my own game.

“Going up against quick, explosive guards every day has sharpened my defensive skills. 

"Competing at a high level consistently has honed my decision-making and ability to play under pressure. 

"I've gained confidence in attacking the basket and making smart decisions inside the key. My three-point shooting under pressure has also improved significantly.

“Being away from home, the biggest challenges have been missing family and friends. 

"However, coach Antonio Anderson has created a great spirit within the program, which helps a lot. 

"I also miss the Super League back home, especially the intense Cork derbies.

“With 20 games left in the season, my aim is to help us reach the play-offs and compete for silverware. 

"Additionally, I would like to play for the U20 Irish team this summer,” O’Flynn concluded.