Updated at 17.36
TRAVIS BLACK MADE a lot of sacrifices to play basketball in the States.
The Dublin-born player left Ireland for America at 17, having just completed his Leaving Cert.
His dream was to pursue a basketball career, yet first he would have to complete two years at Spartanburg Christian high school — or so the authorities told him.
He finally received a full scholarship at Clayton State after two years of hard work and an arduous application process. Finally, his dreams appeared to be coming true, as his presence on the basketball court helped inspire his team to immediate success.
“In two years of high school, I was elected to four All-Star games and in my last year, I was named Player of The Year in my conference,” he tells TheScore.ie. “In my first year of college, we won the regular season championship and then the tournament championship. We went to the National Tournament, where we finished 8th. The second year of college, we won both the regular season and conference tournament championship. We went to the National Tournament again and finished third and went 35 wins and had only one loss.
“I received the National Sportsmanship Award at the tournament. In the two years of college, we had a total of 64 wins and eight losses and since I have been in America, I have won a total of 120 games and experienced only 18 losses.”
However, disaster struck shortly thereafter. When the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) realised that Black had effectively graduated twice from school, once in Ireland and once in America, they deemed him ineligible for the basketball scholarship he had previously been granted.
Consequently, despite having initially been under instructions to attend high school in the States and having completed a substantial amount of paperwork in the first place in order to gain eligibility to compete, he was harshly being denied this opportunity all of a sudden.
“It’s not fair when you try to do the things the NCAA ask of you in the right way and then, your final two years of schooling and playing basketball at the same time is taken away from you,” he says. “All the hard work and sacrifices that I have made just went out the window basically.
“[Basketball in the US] was very hard to adjust to at the start, practising five days a week, lifting weights three days a week and running two days out of the week, but when your body gets conditioned to adapt to the hard training, it then becomes fun, because you start to see the good results. I had to send them a whole bunch of paper work that had good evidence to show everything that I did since I came to America and the reasons for it.
“I was first shocked [when I heard the bad news] because I really did think they were going to let me play and then once it hit me, I was hurt and still am.”Black’s initial appeal over the decision was turned down, yet he says he is still confident that the organisation can be persuaded to revoke their original decision, explaining: “With all the bad publicity that the NCAA have been getting from my case and others, I think they might look at it again.”
Moreover, the decision will have major implications for Black, not just in a sporting sense, but also from an academic perspective. Without his basketball scholarship, the Irish star will likely have no option but to leave college. The cost of attending Clayton State for the final two years of his degree amounts to approximately $40,000 — a fee that he simply cannot afford to pay.
And it is a mishap for which he feels the NCAA are fully responsible for, arguing: “I did everything the right way, I guess they got other things to worry about besides an Irish kid getting his education and playing ball.”
Black, who is the son of an American father and an Irish mother, grew up in Ireland, attending Ardscoil Rís and playing for Swords Basketball Club.
“I didn’t see myself going to college in Ireland, so it was a family decision for me to go the States, get my education there and play basketball at the same time,” he adds. “The standard in America is much higher than it is in Ireland — it’s more professional, it’s time consuming, it’s like working a job. The facilities are better and it’s way more organised, but in saying that, I think that Ireland has a lot of young talent that can play over in the States. They just need the right help or guidance in getting there and being mentally prepared once they do get there, because it’s very hard.
“I had to adjust to the speed, the physicality and athleticism of the game, and once I did, I was fine.”
Black’s coach still allows him to practice and travel to games with the team, which, if nothing else, could provide him with invaluable experience, as the youngster hopes to become a basketball coach in the future.
“I would love to coach basketball and take after my dad and mom, but that’s some hard shoes to fill, because they both are proven winners.”
He also has the option of applying for a half-scholarship in soccer and athletics — two other sports in which he excels.“I won player of the year in soccer and won the state championship too, and I ran track, so I’m trying to see if I can do both and earn a scholarship to let that pay for my school. If that fails, the only thing to do is take out a loan to continue my education.”
Black’s misfortune has already received some media attention, with the player having already received support from both Ireland and the States.
A #LetTravisPlay hashtag has been doing the rounds of Twitter, and he notes that the campaign has brought much attention to the situation.
With that in mind, does he have a message for the people of Ireland and all those who have backed this campaign?
“Yeah, I would just like to thank everyone for all the support, it’s greatly appreciated and hopefully I can get back to balling on the court and represent my family, friends and country.”
You can show your support for Travis Black by using the #LetTravisPlay hashtag
If you wish to register a complaint about the decision, details are available at www.ncaa.com
If he’s as good as they say, it would be a good business opportunity.
Pay his college fees for a percentage of his future earnings.
That is a good idea Philip….. $40k is small potatoes to bigger American companies and could probably be written off to tax also! Not sure how many business people here could afford it but if you don’t ask you don’t get!
Getting a business (outside of a college) to pay for your fees is not possible as all the college sports the NCAA governs are amateur sports and the NCAA will crackdown hard on anyone who does so.
Kid won’t make it, he will be plying his trade with kilester in about three years. Not near the grade of NBA
Isn’t it amazing the stories you read on the journal.ie. You’d never hear interesting stories like this on rte.
I feel for the guy but I not giving him any money…. my life didnt turn out the way I wanted either. Can I have 40 k ?
Trav is a former pupil of mine. A great young lad and someone who has worked unbelievably hard to get to where he is. He led our school, one of the top G.A.A. schools in the county, to a first All Ireland Basketball Cup final in 2009 and almost won the game for us, scoring over 40 points in a game that was televised on Setanta. We are now almost as successful in Basketball as we are in hurling and football.
Going to the States for Trav was about two things. To get his degree and to play basketball. He considers Ireland home and the last time I spoke to him the idea was to come back and play professionally in Europe for a while (where good, though not NBA type money can be earned) and eventually come back to Ireland, settle down and maybe coach.
His father Ken, who has been here for almost thirty years, was one of the leading lights in the explosion of basketball’s popularity in the country in the 80′s and his story is a part of Kieron Shannon’s 2009 book Hanging From The Rafters. It is unfortunate that those running basketball did not listen to Ken and the other Americans when they made the decision to destroy the game’s popularity in 1987 by limiting the amount of Americans that could play on teams. Nonetheless Ken continues coaching to this day and is the current head coach in Ardscoil Ris.
The NCAA has ballsed up a lot of things but this one is just ridiculous. No one in the league that Trav will be playing in has any objection to him playing.
Finally Rob the following three things are worth noting. 1. This story is not about you. 2. I’d imagine the vast majority of people reading it don’t care about how your life turned out. 3. Nowhere in the story is any request made for your or anyone else’s money. The Black family don’t look for charity and everything they have they’ve earned by hard work.
It really is a shame when articles about genuine hard working people who have had something go wrong on them is ruined by egotistical idiots who have to make everything about them.
But don’t worry Rob. Those of us that do care about a young man trying his best to make his way in the world will manage just fine while you self obsess into oblivion.
You really have to laugh at the eejits who don’t read the articles and just mouth off.
Take your time reading next time bob. Its pretty easy
Well said Alan O Connor! My husband has played basketball since his early teens (still does) so it’s great to see an Irish player doing so well. Lets hope it works out for Travis!
@Alan O’connor – Utmost respect!!! Fair play to you… long term basketball player myself (bad accident changed that unfortunately)…. still love the sport and please God things work out as they should for Travis.
“Attending Ard Scoil Rís in Limerick and playing basketball for Swords”
Surely a sub-editor would notice that that sounds a bit odd. He went to Ard Scoil Rís in Marino in Dublin. Do your research lads.
Apologies Shane. Amended now. There’s a school in Limerick with the same name, hence the confusion.
We don’t have the resources to employ sub-editors, and being human, I do make the occasional mistake unfortunately.
It’s brilliant to see that people are heading about Travis, played with him in Swords Basketball Club for about 6 or 7 years. He genuinely is a great fella, and a brilliant player! There is a page on Facebook to try get a bit of awareness out there for him, just search “Let Travis Play”. Give it a like please guys and girls!:)
How dare you make a mistake Paul .
” Surely ” you have ruined Shane’s Christmas now .
@ Paul Hennessey… Sounds like Shane might be at a loose end and could become a sub editor himself?!?!
Oops that should have been Fennessy! Guess I’m not getting the sub editor job now!!!!!!
that’s a kick in the balls
That’s a pain in the hoop
If people who read this article can go on to the Facebook page – Let Travis Play , give it a like & share it to all your friends & families !! Thanks for everyone’s support. Keep spreading our brothers story #LetTravisPlay
Charlotte,
I really wish your brother well. However, the NCAA rules are very clear – your brother just got some terrible advice. Taking three years to get accepted to a DII school after his leaving was the issue. I’m glad your family is highlighting this. It should stop others making the mistake of going to the States without a scholarship lined up in advance.
Anybody with a decent Leaving should be able to walk into most colleges here in the States.
Done!… great to hear an Irish ball player with the talent to make in the NBA…. please God the NCAA see some sense and Travis can realize his dream.
Red tape seems to be the scourge in the land of opportunity as so many well know why they are held back here in ire inc
I realise Travis doesn’t want charity but perhaps at the very least he should consider setting up a crowd funding. A lot of Irish people and businesses would be glad to donate money to him. I for one want to see some Irish draftees in the NBA. I’ll give him 20 quid if he pays it back when he goes pro!
He may have to go the old fashioned American route – Lawsuit, lawsuit, lawsuit.
White men can’t jump…
Whe fecking cares
I’m a little confused -tuition at Clayton State is 4,000 approx per year – not 20,000. If his grades were good enough the college would probably give him an academic scholarship as opposed to an athletic scholarship. The choice of Clayton State itself is strange – I would regard a degree from there as inferior to any of those he could get in Ireland for FREE.
Actually the story above is inaccurate USAToday.com has a more accurate story. He did 2 years in HS in the States and then went on and did a year in Junior College at which point he was given full scholarship to Clayton State at the age of 20. Coming into college sports as a ‘freshman’ at 20 is going to raise many flags and I’m not surprised that opposing coaches in that league ‘dropped the dime’ on him to the NCAA.
Michael, degrees in Ireland aren’t FREE! It’s currently almost €3000 per year without textbooks for those who don’t qualify for grants.
Thanks for your reply Michael but there have been many other stories where people have gone for appeals and the NCAA have infact changed their decision so our family & Travis will continue to remain hope hopeful !!! For anyone looking to support our brother like & share the Facebook page Let Travis Play or tweet #LetTravisPlay ! Thanks so much .
@Keith flood. 8 thumbs down!! The understanding of sarcasm in its finest
If he has an American dad he should be able to get dual citizenship and continue to go to school at a cheaper price. If he really is ( which I’m sure he is) an outstanding player he will definitely standout regardless on what college he chooses. Why settle for NCAA let the NBA scout recognise you. I know someone got picked in NFL team went to team camp and still was not picked after all the practice he had done. It is a tough competitive world, best of luck to you!!!