Cork Basketball: Adam Heaphy thrilled to lead Neptune into new Super League season as captain

It will be a proud night for the Energywise Ireland Neptune captain Adam Heaphy, when he leads his team out for Friday's opening Super League clash with great rivals UCC Demons at the Mardyke Arena.

Heaphy is in his eighth season with the Blackpool club and believes they will make an impression in the coming campaign.

A superpower of Irish basketball, they have only managed two titles in 30 years despite their talent.

Heaphy collected all the big prizes as an underage player.

“I was very lucky growing up as we had a golden generation with the O’Sullivan brothers Conor and Darren, Adam Drummond, Sean Jenkins and Liam Chandler (RIP) but in all honesty, we had a whole host of quality players.

Obviously at the time of winning U18 and U20 National Cups, Neptune was in a very good place with having a glut of talent."

Sadly for Neptune, many of their star players chose another path to take.

“Life is strange as we had a number of players going to America and these were situations outside our control and in reality, no club can afford to lose quality players that we did but we have tried to battle on."

Son of the former Neptune and North Mon star Ger, Adam believes the underachieving must stop sooner than later.

“At the moment, we could be compared to Manchester United with a big name but with no success over recent years and I would like to think we can change that in the coming years."

YOUTHFUL

Speaking about the present squad, he is happy with how the preseason went.

“It is a very young team as I am the eldest player in the squad at 27 as we have Eli Lenihan and Sean McCarthy coming back from the States.

“Over the years, there has always been a huge expectation from Neptune to win trophies but this season we will be going in as underdogs and that will suit us better."

Playing UCC Demons is always a game chalked down by both camps and Heaphy is confident his side will ready.

“We will be raging underdogs and that’s okay as there is pressure going into a derby game as red-hot favourites and we got to be ready to meet them head on.” 

This season Neptune have recruited Americans Zyon Dobbs and Cameron Glover and with 6' 10" Eoin Nelson joining from UCD Marian, they look competitive on the professional front.

Our Americans are two good young lads and outside of being talented on court they are both very nice off it and hopefully they will embrace the challenge of playing in a derby game.” 

Neptune have turned to club man Keith Daly as head coach and Heaphy is delighted with the appointment.

“Look at least Keith has come through the club programme with various teams and that’s good as it’s great to have one our own at the helm that knows and respects the culture of our club.”