BASKETBALL: Killester are in possession of the women's Superleague's dominant force. This is remarkable considering Ivy League graduate Sue Altman was not scouted, rather she emailed her credentials to several Irish clubs. Killester were quickest to bite and are now reaping the benefits.
Every season a new crop of foreigners flood the Irish game, with the bulk arriving straight from the American college circuit. Some are exceptional, many are not, but practically all are gone within a season.
After seven outings, former Columbia University student Altman tops the scoring charts with 223 points and her 31.86 game average is double that of Mercy's Tracey Gahan in second place. The 23-year-old is also third on the overall rebound list.
Altman turned down the opportunity to work on Wall Street with Merrill Lynch to spend a year shooting hoops in north Dublin. Her statistics have also doubled from the numbers she used to post in college - so is the standard that far off?
"There are a lot of good athletes, you know? Tough competitors. We only practise twice a week and play a match on the weekend. I understand it's amateur so that makes sense but in the States you play every day so the skills are a little more polished. That's not out of a lack of ability, more a lack of repetition."
The acid test came in October against UL Aughinish and the mighty Michelle Aspell. Altman shot 44 points but the Irish international finished on 48 points as the defending champions escaped from Greendale with a narrow victory.
The Limerick club have been in decline since, while Killester have won their last three games. "We were so close in all our opening games. Waterford was on the buzzer. We have them again this weekend so we are out for revenge."
The major fear for any foreign player is injury as Irish clubs do not have the finances or the patience to persevere with an investment that is not maintaining those averages. "Nobody really talks about it. I don't think they would be: 'you are out of here, next plane home'. I'm sure if it were a season ending injury it is different but an ankle twist, I would imagine a month window. Although, I don't know".
A distinguished cross country runner, Altman's day starts at 7.30am with a run through Bayside - she was initially housed in Kinsealy with the 43 bus the only means of transport - before arriving at Killester's new gym at Greendale community school to coach local primary school children. The underage and academy club teams keep her busy too.
"In March I will go back home (Clinton, New Jersey) and coach at summer camps. I haven't discussed next year with the Killester people. Right now I am just focused on this year and hopefully making sure we are still playing at the end of March."
There is no formal contract in place. Wouldn't it make sense to ensure such talent is enticed to return?
It would save rolling the dice for another player come the summer when the inbox may not light up so quickly.
Weekend Fixtures
Saturday: Men's Superleague: Star of the Sea v UCD Marian, UUJ, 7.15; Limerick Lions v Killarney Lakers, UL Arena, 7.30; Killester v Ballina, Greendale, 8.0; Tralee Tigers v UCC Demons, Tralee SC, 8.0. Women's Superleague: Killester v Waterford Wildcats, Greendale, 6.0; Glanmire v Meteors, Little Island, 7.30; St Paul's v Mercy, Presentation, 7.30.
Sunday: Oblate Dynamos v UL Aughinish, Oblate Hall, 3.30.
