HOME AND AWAY: JASON KILLEEN - SHANE WHELANtalks to Jason Killeen who left Limerick at 16 for the US to further his development in basketball and who now plies his trade in France
IT MIGHT not seem like the obvious home for one of Ireland’s most promising international basketball prospects, but Sucé Sur-Erdre suits Jason Killeen just fine. Less than 10km from Nantes, Sucé Sur-Erdre is Killeen’s new home as he embarks on a career with French NM2 side, Union Carquefou Ste Luce, for whom he has just signed his first professional contract after learning his trade in US college basketball.
Killeen is one of a growing number of professional Irish basketball players plying their trade in Europe’s leading leagues. Basketball is amongst France’s most popular sports and provides the perfect launch pad for a young player who featured in all of Ireland’s games in the recent European qualifying campaign.
It has been quite a journey for the 24-year-old who left Limerick for the US when he was just 16 to pursue his dreams of a professional basketball career. His parents backed him all the way, telling the prodigious teenager not to live his life with regret. They also reminded him that if it didn’t work out, there would be no shame in coming home.
The path to the US involved a detour via the CBS in Limerick and a certain Colm Barry, the school’s basketball coach. “At 6ft 10in it wasn’t long before Colm noticed me, probably walking along the corridors one day. He got me involved and from the first minute, I was hooked. I am still in contact with Colm today and he’s been a great friend as well as coach.”
Killeen quickly progressed to the regional team and won his first caps for Ireland at under-16 level.
“Things were going well for me and I remember that Mick Marlon, whose son played High School Basketball in the States, was a massive encouragement. With his help, I managed to get into the Notre Dame Academy in Virginia at just 16. It was an incredible feeling but there was also a sense of nervousness. I was heading into the unknown”.
The real breakthrough for Killeen arrived when he won a scholarship to Winthrop, a highly thought of college basketball programme.
“We went to the famous NCAA tournament three years in a row which was a massive achievement,” he recalls with pride. “Winthrop became a home away from home and I was very settled, it was a great time”.
Ever focused on his primary goal, Killeen, however, upped sticks and left Winthrop for Division two college, Augusta State. Killeen plumped for Augusta State University in order to guarantee plenty of time on the court.
“If I had transferred to another division one college I would have had to sit the first year out under college rules, which I wasn’t prepared to do.
“I went on a couple of visits to different schools but I really liked Augusta State. They had a good attitude, had quite a few foreign players and I really felt I fit in from day one”.
The move to Augusta also saw Killeen achieve another milestone away from the basketball arena. He successfully completed his Business Degree in Marketing.
“I am so proud to have been the first in my family to go to college,” said Killeen. “My mother came to my graduation and it is one of my proudest ever moments.”
Before graduating Killeen managed to build on his early promise at Winthrop, going on to play in the NCCA Division 2 finals in 2008 and 2009.
After leaving college, Killeen hired an agent, something he is happy he did. “It was definitely the right thing to do. The club organised an apartment – for myself, the first time I’ve had the luxury of living alone, my own place”.
Suce Sur-Erdre feels like home for the Janesboro native. “I would describe where I am living like most towns in Ireland, a bit like a cross between Naas and Ennis. Everybody has made me feel welcome and I am getting loads of help coming to terms with the language. I have even got as far as learning a few profanities in French, mainly from the coach shouting from the sidelines.”
Even though he trains five nights a week, Killeen definitely has a lot more time to himself than before. “Because a lot of the lads are older and have their own families I spend most of my free time watching movies and TV, which keeps me out of trouble and focused on why I am in France in the first place.”
His new club commenced their season with a two-point win in their opening game and Killeen has already noticed a notable difference. “I am happy with my start but there is still a lot to get used to. The game is incredibly fast here and you can’t be as physical as in international basketball. I got myself into a little bit of foul trouble so I’ll have to adjust to this style of play.”
Killeen, who is hugely proud to represent Ireland at international level, feels that the solitary win over Luxembourg was not just rewards for the national team’s performance in the European qualifiers.
“We had a bad opening quarter against Sweden but apart from that I felt we played quite well. There is a number of newcomers in the squad and we are particularly frustrated not to have won the away game to the Slovak Republic to follow up with the comfortable win we had at home to Luxembourg.”
His commitment and love for Ireland is clearly evident by the map of Ireland he has had tattooed on his arm. “It means everything to me. I want to play for Ireland until I finish playing, full stop. To be able to put on a jersey with Ireland written across it and play with guys who feel the same is the greatest feeling.”
Killeen says his is heartened by the changing attitude to basketball at home in recent years.
“When I go home, a lot more youngsters are playing the game and the crowds at our international games show the progress that is being made. So from a basketball perspective things are very positive.”
Killeen would like to see a similar change in the attitude to his native Limerick.
“Munster’s success in rugby and the two recent soccer internationals at Thomond Park represent the real Limerick. It is a brilliant sporting city and I am proud to say I grew up there.”
