James MacSorley has won wheelchair basketball world championships at U23 and senior level with Great Britain and returned from last year’s Paralympics with a bronze medal.
But with wheelchair basketball making its debut at this summer’s Commonwealth Games, the Belfast native has been given a rare opportunity to represent Team Northern Ireland on an international stage.
First up, however, a qualifying tournament with Scotland and Wales in Glasgow next weekend must be negotiated with one coveted place in Birmingham at stake.
Read more: NI teenagers Dale Taylor and Jamie McDonnell make cup history with Nottingham Forest
“It would be absolutely massive to qualify,” said MacSorley.
“It has been a real privilege to play Great Britain wheelchair basketball, but being able to play for Team Northern Ireland would be on a different level.
“To play wheelchair basketball at a world event - something that has not been possible in the past - would be an amazing step forward in the history of wheelchair basketball here.
“Coming back from the Paralympics with a bronze medal was historic in a way and having the chance to be part of something like this would be the same.
“Coming from Belfast you either play for Great Britain or Ireland and this is a unique chance to play for Team Northern. It is exciting for me.”
MacSorley plays with Bidaideak Bilbao in the Spanish professional league and hopes the added profile the sport gains from the Commonwealth Games will help its continuing growth.
He said: “The sport is growing massively in the UK and especially Northern Ireland where a lot of work has gone into it.
“Disability Sport Northern Ireland (DSNI) have been great in growing the game, it is amazing seeing the league that they have set up there and the number of clubs and people playing.
“Hopefully if people see the sport in Birmingham they will maybe try and find their local club and take up the sport. That would be a great legacy for this event.”
The rules for wheelchair basketball at this year’s Commonwealth games will differ from those at the Paralympics.
In Tokyo it was 5x5 on a full court with two baskets, while in Birmingham it will be 3x3 with one hoop, but MacSorley thinks the basics won’t change.
He said: “It is a really strange one because all the lads back home have been training for 3x3, but being based in Spain, I haven’t really got a chance to see what it is like.
“But at the end of the day it is the same sport with slightly different rules and I’m looking forward to getting involved and seeing how it goes.”
Looking back on helping GB beat Spain 68-58 to win bronze at the Paralympics in Tokyo, MacSorley said: “It was an incredible experience and it’s mad thinking back on it.
“To bring home a bronze medal took a lot of sacrifice and hard work and it is something I don’t take for granted.
“Each medal also took the support of family, coaches, support staff, friends, nutritionists, psychologists and strength coaches.
“To come home with anything from the Paralympics is historic because there are only so many people who can win a medal every four or five years.”
Read more: Leigh Wood vs Michael Conlan rematch hint as Eddie Hearn assesses options
Read more: Padraig McCrory hand injury no April Fool's joke as 'Hammer' vents frustration
Sign up to our free sports newsletter to get the latest headlines to your inbox.
