The Big Interview - Will Hanley

For our next Big Interview, we sat down with Will Hanley, and looked forward to this week's FIBA European Championship for Small Countries. Born in Connecticut, this will be Will's first involvement with the Irish national team. He comes in having played Division III college basketball, as well as playing in France, Spain, Portugal, Japan, and most recently Uruguay.

You’ve just recently entered the Irish national set up for the first time, how are you finding the experience so far? How have you found settling into the team?

"It’s been great, we’ve had a few practices already, and a few shoot arounds. The teammates have all been so welcoming to me, as the new guy here it’s been great to feel welcome. I’m loving the guys, the whole experience has been awesome."

Head coach Mark Keenan obviously pursued you for a while, even going to watch you play while you were in Caen, how did that meeting come about initially?

"Yeah he came over to see me when I was playing in France two years ago. To be honest I’m not really sure how. When I came out of college I know he talked to me a little bit about coming to play in Ireland maybe and then we kind of stayed in contact, he came over to see me, stayed the weekend, chatted, and we built a relationship."

What made now the right time to come in to the Ireland set up?

"I think it just made sense in my life. I was going to do it maybe 4 or 6 years ago, but the season I was playing in ran long and I had a short summer so I kind of pushed it off and just felt like this was the right time."

Have you had to adjust your game at all upon arriving into the Irish set up?

"No I don’t think so, I think the team plays how I like to play. I like to keep the ball moving and get everyone involved. I think everyone is very unselfish on the team so it really fits me well."

With this being your first taste of international competition, do you see the style of play differing much from the club game?

"No I’ve played in Europe, I’ve played professionally for eight years and in Europe for I think seven of them, so I think I’m used to the European style of basketball and team systems. I think I’ll be ready to go."

Having played in so many different set ups, in so many different countries, do you find yourself having to reinvent or readjust your playing style regularly?

"Nah I don’t think so, I think when you’re on a good team everyone has the same ideas, get everybody involved, unselfish basketball, make the right play at all times, so I think it’s something that I can adapt to pretty quickly."

You played Division III college basketball with Bowdoin College in Connecticut, and found your way into professional basketball despite the odds being against players at that level. How tough was that road? And do you feel like you benefited as a player from having to battle against those odds?

"Yeah coming out of Division III not many guys do, some guys play professionally for a year or two. I was lucky to get into a great team my first year, I played in the third league in Spain in my first season and ended up in a great situation in Oviedo, and was MVP of that league, and that allowed me to jumpstart. But I think I always had a little chip on my shoulder so I needed to work harder than other guys, so I think it’s helped me in the long run."

After leaving Bowdoin College you went straight to Oviedo CB in Spain, how did you find the initial transition from college basketball in your home state to a professional club in a new country, on and off the court?

"Off the court was awesome. I had some older guys who really took care of me, my teammates really looked after me, the coach was really on my side, so I think off the court was pretty easy. On the court I guess, I dunno I think I adapted pretty well. The guys really took care of me, and that made it a lot easier having a good group."

After Oviedo you moved on to some massive clubs on the European scene, Valencia, Porto and Tenerife to name a few. That included winning the Champions League, what was that experience like, playing in arguably the biggest club competition outside of the US?

"Yeah that was one of the best years of basketball I’ve ever had. Playing in the ACB in Spain was just the top level, the clubs all really take care of you over there and really make you fit into the system well. Then we won the Champions League in 2017 with Tenerife, that was the best team I’ve ever been on by far, just a great group of guys, everyone looking for the common goal of winning. I still keep in touch with a lot of those guys, and there’s just great memories from winning the championship."

Following your stint in Europe you played in Japan and more recently Uruguay. Having played in so many different leagues, how much do you see the game vary across different countries?

"It’s a little different in each country, I think in some places the import guys are a little more impactful on the game and there’s sometimes more of a focus on them, but, again, it’s pretty much all the same, the same concepts, the same goals of winning, and in order to do that it’s gotta be unselfish basketball, keeping everybody involved and keeping everybody happy out there."

It’s fair to say that basketball has given you an opportunity to travel and live in a range of different countries, what advice would you give players now that might be looking to head abroad to ply their trade?

"I’d say just embrace it. Embrace the country that you go to. People are gonna want to be around you because you’re the new guy and a different player entering the system, but just embrace everything around you. Really get to know the culture and the guys on the team, and just go with it. Some bumps may occur, but just keep rolling with the punches."