JOE spoke to Travis Black, the Irish basketballer whose American dream appears to be over.
The Travis Black story has gathered huge momentum over the last couple of weeks after it was revealed he has been ruled ineligible for a college scholarship because of NCAA regulations. The supremely talented Black is recognised as a huge prospect, but ignorance of the strict rules and regulations has seen his dreams of one day playing in the NBA come to a dramatic end.
His story on JOE generated such sympathy and feedback that JOE spoke to Travis to find out the latest in his sad tale and what the future hold for the budding star.
For a quick recap, Travis completed his Leaving Certificate in Ard Scoil Rís in Griffith Avenue, Dublin in 2008 before moving to the States for high school, prep school and junior college where he showed his outstanding calibre in the sport. However NCAA rules allow for just a one-year grace period after high school graduation and that is why he has been deemed ineligible for Clayton State where he is enjoying a sports scholarship.
“I had no idea that going to school would affect my college career, if I did I wouldn’t have done it in the first place,” he told us.
“The issue first came to light three weeks after I signed to play for Clayton State University and while I am still trying to get my head around the ruling, it is still a crushing decision.”
While Travis concedes that his team-mates and indeed the college have been “very supportive”, he hopes that the publicity his case has received may change the minds of the NCAA.
“I think they might review again because of all the bad attention that they have been receiving recently. And the support has come from some pretty high profile individuals and organisations, so I am hoping something might come of it,” he adds.
ESPN analysts, former NBA and college players, as well as European-based have contacted the player to support him in his plight, and he adds that the level of Irish support has surprised him greatly.
“The Irish support has been really great and I am greatly appreciative for it too. I also I think Americans have been surprised by the amount of support that I have gotten coming from a small country like Ireland.”
Thanks for all the support back home in Ireland there is too many people to thank individually but much appreciative
— Travis Black (@Travvy12) November 9, 2013
The basketballer has said the messages of support have also increased his homesickness – he has not returned to see his family since leaving in 2008 – and say his family and friends, Lyons Tea and Dublin are the things he misses the most. And of course in that particular order.
Owing to the fact he has not been allowed play any basketball this year, Travis is hoping to turn his attentions to football and track and field to continue his scholarship, and has said that any Irish athletes looking to follow in his path had better be prepared for the challenges that lie in wait.
“It’s a very difficult task to come over to America and play, you have to be mentally tough for it because they try to break you down so that’s why I say you got to love it to make it over here.”
We wish Travis all the best with his immediate future and he can continue to lean on Irish support in his current plight.
