Umeh and Ogedegbe line out for Ireland Under 18 squad
Jayden Umeh Photo: ©INPHO/Tom O'Hanlon
PORTLAOISE Panthers pair, Jayden Umeh and Desmond Ogedegbe enjoyed some court time for the Ireland Under 18 Men’s team in their double-header against Croatia in the National Basketball Arena last week.
Despite a dogged display against a team that had finished ten places above them in last year’s FIBA Youth EuroBasket Championships, Niall Berry’s side lost out in the two preparation games - slow starts proving costly on both counts.
Ogedegbe and Umeh each enjoyed more than 13 minutes of game time in Game Two, the latter recording a big third-quarter display that helped him to a total of five points and as many rebounds by the close of proceedings.
Still, the hosts were undone 67-55 in that game, as Croatia finished with three players in double digits, Josip Santro, Patrik Dorotic and Martin Salamunic combining for a total of 34 points.
Both Umeh and Ogedegbe will be hoping to make the cut for this year’s FIBA Youth EuroBasket tournament, which will be held in Croatia, Ireland having been drawn in Group C for the competition.
While the two players have continued their breakthrough on to the Men’s National League team in Portlaoise Panthers, they have also enjoyed another great year in schools basketball, helping St Mary’s CBS to the All-Ireland Under 19A League title where they beat Coláiste Éanna by just three points in a thrilling final back in February.
The same two teams also reached the All-Ireland Cup decider the previous month, the Dublin side prevailing 68-59 on that occasion, despite Ogedegbe amassing a huge 34 points in that contest.
Certainly the Panthers pair have earned their place in Berry’s recently-announced extended Ireland squad, which will be whittled down to 12 ahead of the Europeans.
“We are very excited about this group of players,” remarked the Ireland team boss after last month’s squad announcement.
“With such a talented group of players who are playing here in Ireland, we feel that the 19 players selected are all capable of moving on to a final 12.”
