Neely finds success on Scottish court: Eastern York graduate Nate Neely helped the University of Stirling win its league title.

Apr 27, 2009 (York Daily Record - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- EAYO | Quote | Chart | News | PowerRating -- Nate Neely was content studying biology and political science abroad in Scotland at the University of Stirling after finishing his career as a two-sport athlete at Eastern York High School.

Until the bug bit him. He wanted to get back on the basketball court.

Fortunately for Neely, the opportunity was there as, although considered a club, Stirling has two university squads -- a "first" and "second" team, both playing competitive schedules in the Scottish Universities Sport union.

However, his chance to play again presented itself almost by accident.

Neely, a junior, was courtside at a Stirling women's game and happened to be sitting near the university's men's players. He talked to some of the men and was invited to shoot around at a training session.

Two days later, he found himself practicing with the second team and impressed enough people that afterward the coach approached him about joining the first team for the upcoming season.

That invitation turned into the 6-foot-1 Neely becoming the sixth man and shut-down defender for Stirling's top team that won its league title.

The former Golden Knight basketball and soccer standout said his personal season highlight was in the league semifinal game in Aberdeen when, despite an errant elbow breaking his nose, he slowed a guard that scored 16 early points, leading to a 64-56 victory for Stirling.

"Winning the league championship, and therefore, the national title, was a great accomplishment," Neely

said in an e-mail. "(In the semifinal), I was put into the lineup in the second quarter and matched up against him the rest of the game. He did not score another basket while I was guarding him."

Neely added that despite the increasing popularity, European college basketball doesn't have the financial impact -- both in allotted funds and income generated -- for its schools compared to the U.S. Thus, many of the facilities resemble what he called a middle school gym.

"However, once the players step on the court, you wouldn't be able to tell the difference between a college game at home or here in Scotland," he said. "In fact, I would argue that overseas players are much better shooters than the majority of players at home in the U.S."

Of course, playing for the team was just another part of what has been an awesome overall experience for Neely. He credits his teammates, fellow students and staff for making him feel at home during his stay.

"Saying that playing, living, and studying overseas in Scotland has been rewarding would be an understatement," he said. "I thank God for giving me the opportunity to experience so much at such a young stage in my life.

"The added experience of being a part of a great basketball team was definitely an added bonus. Scotland is much like the United States in that it is a central melting pot of nationalities. Just on my basketball team alone, I played along side players from Scotland, Ireland, Iceland, Germany, the Netherlands, and England.

"Each member of the team had a friendly, welcoming personality, and each did their own part to make me feel as comfortable as possible in my new home both on and off the court. I can't say enough about the quality of the individuals."

Still, there has been challenges -- on and off the court. Training helps on the court, discipline is the key off it.

"On the court, learning the tendencies of each player, having grown up in a different part of the world, was the toughest obstacle," Neely said. "Maintaining my focus on schoolwork was the biggest challenge I faced.

"Being in a new place made me feel very adventurous, and I found myself wishing I could be exploring rather than working on a paper that was due in the upcoming days."

Along with fiancee, fellow Eastern grad Lauren Schrift, who is studying abroad as a member of the Arcadia University honors program, Neely has traveled through much of the region, seeing England, France and Italy, including the Vatican.

"It is a good way of putting things in your own life into perspective," Neely said. "For me, it has made me realize just how much my family and friends mean to me."

snavaroli@ydr.com; 771-2060

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