Jermaine Turner (born July 29, 1974) is an American-Irish former professional basketball player who spent the majority of his 17-year career playing in the Irish Super League.
Over 17 years, he spent time with Dungannon, Tralee, Ballina, Tolka Rovers, UCD Marian, St Vincent's, and Killester.
Turner initially played football as a wide receiver before turning his attention to basketball heading into his junior year.
The next day when the coach saw that teammate sporting a black eye, he summoned Turner to his office and kicked him off the team.
[1] In his time away from college during the 1990s playing in New York City indoor leagues and at playgrounds, Turner met future NBA champion Ron Artest.
After a 15-game stint in Puerto Rico with Capitanes de Arecibo, where he averaged 10.7 points and 5.3 rebounds,[3][4] Turner received a call from Irishman Frankie O'Loane on September 10, 2000.
But when I went back to America for the Christmas break, I realised that I had to take my blinders off or I'd end up just like my friends at home, doing nothing or working in a job they hated.
As a result, the team had severe financial problems and not only had to postpone three matches, but were forced to release their two Americans, Turner and Kenny McFarland, along with coach Martin McGettrick.
[20] On March 25, 2006, Turner scored 38 points to lead St. Vincent's to a 90–79 win over UCC Demons in the Men's Superleague Semi-Final.
[26] Four days after St Vincent's loss to Shamrock Rovers Hoops, Turner signed with Spanish team Mérida Patrimonio de la Humanita for the rest of the 2006–07 Liga EBA season.
[40] On January 31, 2010, Turner enjoyed his "sweetest" moment in Irish basketball as he inspired Killester with an MVP performance to help his side to National Cup success after a 94–69 demolition of UCC Demons in the final.
The win ensured Turner's long wait for a cup final medal had come to an end and afterwards he admitted his relief after a performance that yielded 29 points.
[41] Less than two months later, on March 27, Killester clinched a clean sweep of trophies following their 74–64 season-finale win over UL Eagles to secure the Nivea For Men's SuperLeague title.
"[45] Killester redeemed themselves on March 27, 2011, as they defeated Neptune 84–80 in the Nivea For Men's SuperLeague final to win back-to-back titles, with Turner scoring 14 points in the championship decider.
[46] Turner returned to Killester for the 2011–12 season, but the team lost a number of leading players during the offseason and replaced long-time coach Mark Keenan with Darren O'Neill.
[49] In 2012, despite being the proud owner of an Irish passport, Turner was still considered as an American under Basketball Ireland and Superleague regulations.
As a result, Turner stood down from his duties with Killester and took on Basketball Ireland's Superleague and its regulation which dictated that he must compete as a foreign player.
With his protest and boycott amounting to nothing, Turner thought he was finished with the league, but then he was part of a team that won a national 3x3 competition and represented Ireland at a European qualifying tournament in Riga in August 2014.
"[1] Turner re-joined Killester for the 2014–15 season and scored a game-high 25 points in their 76–51 season-opening win over DCU Saints on October 4, 2014.
[51] He helped Killester come within two points of reaching the Champions Trophy final and earned Men's Premier League 2015 All-Star Third Pick honors.
[53] Turner was not only named Player of the Month for February,[54] but also garnered Men's Premier League 2016 All-Star First Pick honors.
[1] On October 8, 2016, in the third game of the 2016–17 season, Turner rolled back the years with a season-best 45 points to help Killester defeat Moycullen 83–74.
[57][58] Still considered one of the most athletic guys in the Irish game despite his age,[59] Turner's intensity and determination in 2016–17 was spurred on by Killester's National Cup semi-final defeat to eventual winners Templeogue in January 2016.
[61] And so it was, on January 7, 2017, Turner amassed a staggering 28 rebounds and 15 points that helped his team to a memorable and unexpected 81–69 win over UCD Marian in the Men's National Cup semi-final.
"[60] Killester went on to lose in the National Cup final to Swords Thunder on January 28, as they were heavily defeated 72–51 despite Turner's 12 points and game-high 16 rebounds.
[45] Fittingly, Killester matched-up against DCU Saints in the regular-season finale, giving Turner the proper send off amongst the two teams he had accomplished so much with.
[68] Every summer between 2009 and 2016, Turner was a guest coach with Pete Strobl's Pittsburgh-based basketball academy The Scoring Factory.
Leesa (née Grennell) is a member of one of Irish basketball's great families; a daughter of Martin, a sister of Johnny, and a fine player in her own right for the Killester women's team.
[1][74] During his career, Turner would often pretend to rip open the front of his top when celebrating, a la Superman,[75] a nickname Ron Artest would call him when they played together on the playgrounds of New York in the 1990s.