Tom Wilkinson

Tom Wilkinson is one of the most decorated players in the history of Irish basketball.

International

100+ caps

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National Cups

1985, 1988 and 1990

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National League champion

1980-81 to 1990-91

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Roy Curtis international tournament

1982

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Clubs

Neptune, Blue Demons, Douglas National School

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Tom Wilkinson is one of the most decorated players in the history of Irish basketball.

No one has more National (Super) League medals to their name than ‘Wilky’, who finished with eight, a tally only equalled by his long-time Neptune teammate Tom O’Sullivan. Indeed from 1980-81 to 1990-91, there were only three seasons that concluded without Wilkinson being a National League champion.

Wilkinson also won three National Cups (1985, 1988 and 1990, all with Neptune), as well as five old National Top Four Championships, two of which he won with Blue Demons, a club he captained to the league and Top Four double in 1980-81, before transferring back to his first love, Neptune, who he would help transform into the most dominant team the domestic men’s league has ever known.

Wilkinson excelled in international competition too. In one of the greatest-ever international achievements by an Irish club side, he scored a team-high 20 points for Burgerland Neptune in their historic 1982 Roy Curtis international tournament final win over the famed Murray International Metals, from Scotland. Renowned for his mental toughness, leadership and terrific outside shooting, Wilkinson played more than 100 times for Ireland between 1976 and 1988, captaining the side for the last three of those seasons.

Upon retiring in 1991 after another league and Top Four double, Wilkinson served as Neptune club treasurer for a number of years before coaching the club to another Super League title in 1997. He also coached multiple teams in Douglas National School, where he taught for decades before recently retiring, and Douglas Community School, helping popularise the sport on the southside of Cork city.