Dublin-born player Aidan Igiehon is hoping to put Irish athletes on the map. Could his quick success in basketball take him all the way to the NBA?
The Future Irish Star in the NBA
21-year-old Aidan Igiehon is in the spotlight and for good reason. He is currently following a less trodden path which has taken him 5,000km across the world from Dublin, Ireland to Brooklyn, USA. This is all in hopes of someday being drafted into the National Basketball Association (NBA). While Igiehon is now a part of an elite Irish group of basketballers playing at college level, few actually make it into the NBA. Currently, Pat Burke has been the only other Irish-born player to be drafted into the NBA league.
Igiehon stated that he wanted to blaze a path within the elite American college basketball scene and bring attention to other aspiring Irish basketball athletes and to stop people from overlooking the sport in Ireland. The ‘Super League’ is recognised as the top basketball league in Ireland, but with only 12 teams in the league, it’s a far cry from the 30 teams in the NBA.
Igiehon saw quick success with basketball after only picking up the sport at the age of 12. Before his basketball career, he was a keen footballer playing midfield. However, his natural talent for basketball shone and he was quickly scouted as a potential star. Igiehon’s love for basketball was instantaneous and his passion has flourished ever since. Two years later at the age of 14, he moved to New York and his skills were quickly recognised by many prospective high schools and colleges ready to invest in such promising talent. His towering frame at 6ft 10 inches and coupled with his explosive playing style quickly gave a new nickname as ‘The Irish Hulk’.
A Frustrating Bout of Injuries
His short career to date, however, has been hit with several snags as Igiehon has picked up injury after injury. In his two years at Louisville University, a bout of injuries have caused Igiehon to only be able to play 18 games in this time for the Louisville Cardinals. Amongst others, Igiehon has suffered a shoulder and groin injury, an undisclosed illness, and a case of Mononucleosis which is more commonly referred to as mono. Of course, with so many injuries cropping up, consistent training with peers goes out the window creating an unfortunate situation that absolutely as an impact on his progression.
His injuries have certainly been costly and could be part of the reason Igiehon is not expected to return to Louisville for another season. With the transfer portal for 2022/2022 gearing to open in the spring, a transfer will certainly provide a new start for the Irish Hulk and hopefully turn over a new leaf leaving injuries in his past. His journey will be an interesting one to follow to see where his path leads next.
The Irish Love for Basketball
With many emerging Irish basketball stars hoping to make a name and career across the pond in America, it’s not surprising how many Irish basketball fans follow the major basketball tournaments in the USA such as the NBA. For many, being a spectator of basketball is enough. However, there are many Irish punters who like to kick their entertainment up a notch. Curious about what it could be?
NBA Betting Sites in Ireland
Many Irish fans find one of the ways to get even closer to the action is by placing wagers on the outcomes of the game. It can be hard to find NBA Betting Sites in Ireland, however, site such as BetinIreland.ie do the hard work for you by compiling all the top sportsbooks available for Irish players that offer betting on the NBA.
888sport
One such sportsbook that is incredibly popular in Ireland is 888sport and they know how to deliver the entertainment to their customers. With the growing popularity of NBA betting in Ireland, 888sport offer helpful information and tips about how to make the most out of betting on the NBA. It’s clear that 888sport is a firm favourite for Irish punters, however, it’s even better to get a clear and concise review that allows you to make up your own mind.
Wondering whether you should sign up with 888sport or not doesn’t have to be a difficult decision when you have reviews such as https://www.betinireland.ie/reviews/888sport/ on hand. BetinIreland cover all the most important topics of a sportsbook such as the sports on offer, important licensing information, up-to-date bonuses, payment options, and much more. Having all the relevant information in one place saves you time and gets you quicker to your choice of entertainment.
BoyleSports
BoyleSports is the largest independent bookmaker from Ireland. With over 40 years of experience under their belt, this bookmaker is truly an Irish site though and through. They firstly dominated the highstreets with hundreds of available shops in Ireland. Nowadays, this bookmaker is accessible to more customers online, both in Ireland and around the world.
BoyleSports know that their Irish customers are fans of many sports and tournaments around the world, which is why you will be able to find many betting markets for the NBA on their site. Some options of betting markets include Money Line, Total Points, Player Points, and Handicap.
On certain basketball games, BoyleSports offer price boosts to stretch the odds even further so that if your prediction is correct, you’ll get more bang for your buck.
A Bright Future?
Basketball in Ireland is still on a road to recovery after the national teams were deactivated in 2010 amid a tough recession in the country. While the teams have been reactivated and are in a fairly healthy place, it is clear why many young and aspiring athletes have their sites set on gaining an all-important basketball scholarship from some of the top colleges in the United States of America.
Aidan Igiehon has Ireland’s full support and will be understandably thrilled if he is able to be drafted into the NBA. This will no doubt be a decision that would help put Irish athletes on the map.
