Ulster Elks
The Ulster Elks are a basketball team from Northern Ireland, the side play in the Superleague (Ireland's top-tier basketball league). The Elks play their home games at the University of Ulster.
History
The University of Ulster at Jordanstown Men’s Basketball Club was founded in 1984. The club effectively evolved from the Ulster Polytechnic Club, which was in existence in advance of the Ulster Polytechnics transition to University status.
The Ulster Polytechnic Club had a hugely successful history with British Polytechnic titles won in the late 70’s and early 80’s Senior Irish international players, John Kennedy, Leo McColgan, Brendan Rushe, Brendan Kennedy, Paul Kennedy, Barney Ball, Paul ‘Rocky’ Cairns and Eugene Young all contributed to the successful run of titles. Equally the coaching and management staff of Walter Bleakley (School of Education and Ex Irish Senior International Point Guard) and Billy Ingram (Ex Sports Studies and National League referee) provided the structure and support for the basketball programmes on offer.
The UUJ Men’s club can also boast a range of Irish Colleges titles in the 80’s with Fergus Donnelly, Dee Mc Grath and Jas Mooney providing the backbone of the team. The 90’s saw the inclusion of UUJ in the Irish Varsity Championships and the Club dominated in this forum with 5 titles (1991,1992,1994,1995 & 1997) over a period of seven years.
At this time UUJ was coached by Deirdre Brennan (School of Health Sciences and Ex Irish Senior International) and had the services of Gareth Maguire (the youngest and most capped Irish Senior Men’s International), Adrian Fulton (Irish Senior International), Trevor Smullen (Irish Senior International) Gary Connolly, Paul Rigby, John Hurson. Since that period the men’s team has continued to reach the quarter finals of the varsity championships or final of the plate competition.
The clubs history and tradition has made it one of the most successful clubs at the University. Basketball has deservedly been identified as one of 7 focus sports for development at the university. As a result in 2005 the Club made its first ever entry to Nation basketball competition by entering Basketball Irelands men’s Division 1 league and cup. In 2007 the Ulster Elks was awarded a Superleague linence and its just finished its second year in top flight basketball in Ireland.
Squad 2010/11
| Position | Player | Height | Number | Nationality |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | Connor O'Dornan | 5 ft 10" | #4 |  |
| G | Andy O'Hare | 5 ft 8" | #6 | |
| G | Paddy McGaharan | 6 ft 2" | #10 | |
| G | Stephen Crothers | 5 ft 9" | #7 | |
| G/F | Damien Gallagher | 6 ft 4" | #11 | |
| G | Aodhan Hickey | 5 ft 11" | #8 | |
| G | Barry Drumm | 6 ft 1" | #10 | |
| G/F | Ciaran McEvilly | 6 ft 4" | #11 | |
| G | Lilly Conor | 6 ft 0" | #12 | |
| F | Ben De La Cruz | 6 ft 6" | #14 |  |
| C | Conor Gallagher | 6 ft 10" | #15 | |
| G/F | Kevin Foley | 6 ft 6" | #21 | |
| G | Paul Cummins | 6 ft 4" | #35 | |