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| Ireland (Juventus) |
Former Crosby and Loyola Marymount standout Anthony Ireland is fitting in just fine in Lithuania.
Ireland moved on to Juventus after playing for Trefl Sopot in Poland. He is second in the Lithuanian Basketball League in points per game at 15.1. Ireland ranks fourth in steals per game at 1.6, and he is tied for sixth in assists at 4.5, according to statistics posted on Eurobasket.
On Saturday, Ireland found himself up against the famous, or infamous depending on your point of view, LaMelo Ball. Ireland is not a pushover.
“Lamelo Ball matched up with former LMU guard Anthony Ireland right now,” Clint Parks wrote on Twitter. “If you know basketball then you know Anthony is a problem.”
Parks helps train basketball players in California, the home of Loyola Marymount. All Ireland did with the Lions was become the only one to have at least 2,000 career points, 500 rebounds, 500 assists and 150 steals. He is one of three LMU players to earn first team All-West Coast Conference accolades, according to information posted on the school’s athletics website.
Ireland is definitely “a problem”. He was so good scoring the ball that he finished third in LMU history, two spots ahead of some guy named Bo Kimble. All Kimble did in 1990 was lead the Lions to an improbable appearance in the Elite Eight, and it all came on the heels of the death of Hank Gathers. Gathers is still the school’s all-time leading scorer. Gathers and Kimble were a prolific scoring duo in the 1989-1990 season before Gathers passed.
Ireland can score the ball, he can provide steady leadership, and he is a hard worker. It’s no surprise that he ranks near the top of the premier pro league in Lithuania.
