High school team to play basketball in Ireland

Adam Philpott remembered his once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to play basketball overseas as part of the New England Colonials during his student days at Gloucester.

The experience was so rewarding that Philpott is returning next spring in a coaching capacity.

Philpott is in the process of formulating a roster of high school students to play in Ireland during the April school vacation. The 10-day tour includes visits and games will be played in Dublin, Oranmore, Drogheda and Belfast.

“This was something I had a chance to do as a player in my freshman year at Gloucester,” said Philpott, the boys basketball coach at Gloucester High. “We had a chance to play in Ireland and Scotland and it was a great experience. We stayed with host families there and it was a great opportunity for me. The hospitality was top notch and I remained in contact with several people from back then.”

New England Colonials International is a nonprofit, volunteer-run program founded in 1979. Its central purpose is the support and encouragement of international friendship and understanding between New England student-athletes and their peers around the world. The Ireland tour will commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Peace Agreement in Northern Ireland.

The tour itinerary will be developed by NEC International’s ITMI-certified international tour manager. The 2023 Ireland team will be comprised of 10 players and two adult coaches. NEC’s fundraising consultant will assist players in raising funds to meet their travel expenses.

“We are working on putting together a roster,” said Philpott, who played his college basketball at Bates, serving as a team captain in 2014-15. “It’s open to anyone from grades 9-12 and we’re hoping that interest increases once we are all back in school.”

To request the 2023 Ireland Tour PowerPoint, players and parents are encouraged to contact Philpott by email at aphilpott@rockportmortgage.com. Players should secure parental permission to request the PowerPoint.

from Boston Herald https://ift.tt/g4bmdu2