The Greatest

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At first glance, County Tyrone , seems like an unlikely stage for a Basketball Player , widely considered one of The Greatest point guards of all time.

But in The Spring of 1988 Nba Star John Stockton to coach a basketball camp in the mid-Ulster town of Dungannon .

The Utah Jazz veteran, the resume speaks for itself.

He still holds the record for the most career assists and steals in the NBA and has two Olympic Gold medals.

as an NBA Hall-of-Fame member, who comes from Spokane, Washington, in Dungannon ?

the 58-year-old smiles as he recalls: "I Speaking on Bbc News NI I have good memories of Dungannon . I have A Trip to Ireland with My Wife , my son, who was six months old at The Time , and my Parents .

Utah Jazz legend John Stockton at a basketball camp in Dungannon 1988

"I'm Irish on my father's side, so we wanted to roots of its track, and while I was there, I was asked, I would put a stop to The Camp . "

The person who this request was Frankie O'Loane.

He has since died, but a Driving Force behind basketball in Northern Ireland , from the 1970s on.

Frankie O'Loane trained to win a series of all-Ireland-school-basketball-teams, and would go on to coach Dungannon 's super-league football team

In The Time of the Nba Star 's Irish visit, Mr O'Loane, a Pe Teacher at St. Patrick's College in Dungannon , where the basketball camp was held.

Stockton says it's been an interesting first impression of Ireland: "When I was picked up by Frankie , to Pick Up The First thing I remember trying on his Irish accent.

"The Second thing I remember is the arrival at The School , and right next to The Playground , it was a great, Wi-Fi fence with helicopters and armored vehicles. "

Northern Ireland , in the year 1988 was even in The Middle of bases in the violence and the army, was commonplace throughout the country for almost 20 years

The army base in Dungannon , was next to the door of the city post-primary schools.

'your teammates are her family says"

Stockton , he still has vivid memories of the setting.

"During the trip, we were stopped at an army checkpoint, and while in school it seemed like the helicopters were coming and going every few minutes.

"It was certainly an interesting addition to the setting for basketball coaching.

"But I Remember When I was inside The Camp , for me, it was very much like a basketball camp I went Back Home in the USA to this time.

"A large number of children with abilities, some of which had previously never been a basketball, but some were not bad for her age. "

"I love children for sports in a young age, for me, there is nothing comparable. With basketball, you step on The Court , and it is easy, your teammates are your family for The Next couple of hours, and the brotherhoods wear on The Court . "

Fintan Colgan pictured in The Middle of the back row with John Stockton in the basketball camp in Dungannon

Fintan Colgan is a retired teacher from St. Patrick's Academy and has been involved with basketball for More Than 30 years.

He has clear memories of Stockton 's time at The Camp .

He says: "It was a surprise for the children when he went, there was a real presence about him, and he didn't talk down to them, but he was very much devoted to the sport, that you could not improve without practice.

"He showed a lot of passing drills with them, and his death is probably The Greatest there ever was. I don't think his assists record to be beaten, and that makes him a really great time. "

If you are not tends, when asked about the countless records he holds, Stockton , says he, to dwell on them.

"I don't give much thought to the statistics. I know it is largely, as I am, you can just go out and play, and you put it Out There , what history teaches us, it tells us.

Stockton still holds the NBA record for assists

"If it's brought up, it is a way to keep properly the record, but I get the recognition for the efforts for a large part of the team-mates who have helped me, that, but it's nice to keep him, but still. "

Stockton is one of the highest-profile Americans have a connection to Irish basketball, but in the 1980s there was a wave of professional American who came to Ireland in the sport to play.

A rule change in each of the Irish basketball league team had a recruit is allowed to, two professional players from overseas. It was a step in the Transformation of the sport and brought the American players such as Ed Randolph to the Irish League.

Randolph signed for sports-Belfast in 1982 after playing College Basketball at Roger Williams University in Rhode Island .

John Stockton says he has good memories of his trip to Ireland

For many American college players, which was just under The Cut for the NBA, a career in Europe, the sustainable alternative.

It is, of Stockton , says he also considered how it will be after the college, he not had faith, he would be picked to play in the NBA.

"I was planning on to Europe. As early as a month before the Nba Draft , I was not picked up, the anticipation and all of a sudden I'm picked up by Utah and the rest for me is history.

"But if that hadn't worked out, I was fully planning on overseas to play basketball, but I was not selected. "

when asked if he could have played in Ireland, he replies with a smile.

"Yes, I could have, maybe even Dungannon . "

dungannon

Source of news: bbc.com