Eagles Abroad
From the courts of Cavan Eagles to earning their place in the American college game — players who came through our club and now compete at the highest levels of the sport beyond Ireland.
Emma Tolan — Oklahoma Sooners ↗
Eagles and Ireland international Emma Tolan returns to the University of Oklahoma for 2026/27. The Sooners are one of the powerhouse programmes in US women's college basketball — NCAA Division I in the Southeastern Conference (SEC) — and reached the Sweet 16 last season, finishing 26–8 before falling to South Carolina. A forward from Cavan, Emma is among a small group of Irish players competing at the very top of the American college game.
Sophie Staunton — Saint Peter's Peacocks ↗
Eagles and Ireland international Sophie Staunton joins Saint Peter's University in Jersey City, New Jersey from September 2026. The Peacocks compete at NCAA Division I level in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) — the same university whose men's team made a famous run to the 2022 NCAA Elite Eight. An Ireland U18 and U20 international guard, Sophie steps up to Division I after starring in the Eagles' first Super League seasons.
Jake Verschoyle — Houghton Highlanders ↗
Cavan man and Ireland U20 international Jake Verschoyle is a 6'4" guard playing his college basketball at Houghton University in New York, in the NCAA Division III Empire 8 Conference. A three-time player of the year at Virginia College in Cavan, he spent time at Cuesta College in California before moving to Houghton, and has been in the American college system for a few years now. He represented Ireland at the 2022 FIBA U20 European Championships.