Jermaine Turner (born July 29, 1974) is an American-Irish former professional basketball player who spent the majority of his 17-year career playing in the Irish Super League. Turner first arrived in Ireland in 2000 following a season of college basketball with Dowling College. Over 17 years, he spent time with Dungannon, Tralee, Ballina, Tolka Rovers, UCD Marian, St Vincent's, and Killester. He also had stints in Switzerland, Finland, Romania and Spain. Turner was instrumental in leading St. Vincent's and Killester to championship glory during his time with both teams. In 2006, Turner was named the Most Valuable Player of the finals weekend after leading St Vincent's to their first Superleague title since 1994. In 2010 and 2011, he led Killester to back-to-back league championships as well as back-to-back National Cup finals—winning in 2010 and earning MVP of the final, and losing in 2011 to UCD Marian in what Turner describes as his "biggest regret". In his time away from Ireland, Turner enjoyed what he describes as his most enjoyable experience outside of Irish shores: winning the Swiss Division Two league title and MVP honors in 2005 with Vacallo. Early life and high school Turner was born in Brownsville, Brooklyn. At the age of four, his mother moved the family to LeFrak City, Queens. According to Turner, "You couldn't be seen on the streets [of Brownsville] after a certain hour, because the place was like the wild, wild West. Everyone had a gun." Turner grew up in Queens and attended John Adams High School, a school renowned for its American football programme. Turner initially played football as a wide receiver before turning his attention to basketball heading into his junior year. Turner quickly acquired good dunking skills, but when he tried out for the school team in the fall of his junior year, he failed to make the squad, with the coach noting that there was more to basketball than dunking. That year, Turner trained with Vincent Smith, the brother of NBA star Kenny Smith, after encountering him in a hall just off Queens Boulevard. As a result, he made the team as a senior and earned himself a university scholarship. College career Turner's college career was turbulent. He first played with Orange County Community College but his brash, flash style didn't enamour him to his coach. On one road trip, Turner and a teammate got into a scuffle after that