Former YouTube mixtape sensation, Seventh Woods, who hails from South Carolina in the United States, rolls into town this weekend as part of a talented UCC Demons team facing Maigh Cuilinn in the Basketball Ireland Men’s Superleague.
Woods, whose exploits on the USA High School circuit back in 2016 propelled his eye-popping highlight reel to viral status with over 16.5 million views, will line out for the 3pm Sunday tip off at the University of Galway Sports Arena.
The outing marks a welcome return to the University Arena for Maigh Cuilinn who had to source alternative home venues for their most fixtures, the most recent of which was a disappointing 70 to 87 defeat at the Cappagh Sports Centre on Sunday last against blue bloods of Irish basketball, Killester from Dublin.
Woods is without a doubt the star attraction for Demons and he has certainly not disappointed to date in scoring over 20 points per game and exhibiting the scarcely believable athleticism that featured in his legendary mix tape and earned him a scholarship to the famed North Carolina University where a little known basketball player by the name of Michael Jordan previously plied his trade.
Maigh Cuilinn will certainly have their hands full but will know that while Woods might grab headlines, the beating heart of Demons continues to reside within former Irish Senior Men’s captain Kyle Hosford who is still playing some of the best basketball of his career now aged 33.
Hosford may not be scoring like he used to (averaging just 9.3 points per game this season ) but his experience and competitive energy are invaluable and if Maigh Cuilinn are to win this game, Hosford is possibly the key man they need to marshall.
The Galway side should enter the contest with some confidence, having won the most recent meeting between these teams. That victory came in November of last year on the back of an outstanding defensive effort from Maigh Cuilinn that held Demons to their season low.
A similar effort will be required this weekend for the men from Conemara to earn what would be their second win of the season and move them out of the relegation zone.
Demons for their part will be keen to avenge what was a surprise loss last weekend when they let a six point half time lead slip away against Maree to lose at home by two, 86 to 88.
Demons entered the season as one of the favourites but have stumbled so far to an underwhelming three win and two loss record leaving them chasing the early pace-setters Belfast Star who are undefeated to date.
