Hoops and dreams for basketball ace Marty

The former St Patrick's College pupil enjoyed a fairytale first season in high school basketball, firing his Central Catholic High School side in Toledo, Ohio, to their first city championship win for 42 years.

And his exploits have led to him catching the eye of college scouts in the area – but the level-headed teenager is keeping both feet firmly planted on the ground.

"To make it as a professional basketball player in America you have to be in the super-elite, something really special," said Marty, as he enjoyed some time back at home last week.

"I want to get a good education – that is my priority – and getting to play basketball and experience living in another country is a bonus.

"I knew it was an unbelievable opportunity but I never expected it to be as great as it turned out to be. I made a lot of friends and the basketball was crazy – it's not so much a sport as a lifestyle over there.

"We were playing matches in packed halls with crowds of 3-4,000 and my game came on so much from practising for three hours a day as well as improving the physical and mental sides of my game.

"I played pretty well and some coaches from colleges in the area have offered me the opportunity to have a look at what they offer but I'm not 100 per cent sure what I'm going to do yet.

"I could study over here and I have contacts in Europe with people from Ballymena who have gone over there so I could maybe go and play there at some stage in the future."

For now, however, he is enjoying some well-earned rest at home and a function was laid on for him on Friday night in the parish centre.

"It was a great chance for me to catch up with everyone again and I thoroughly enjoyed it," added Marty.