Sam McEntee

Sam began his basketball journey by volunteering with the Lakers Meeting Special Needs Club, where he spent three years coaching in their junior section (ages 6–12), teaching the fundamentals of the game. Eager to grow his knowledge and skills, he joined the Dublin Raiders Academy in 2017 as a player, where he spent two years developing on the court.

After a short break, Sam returned to support the Dublin Raiders Summer Camp, before stepping up as Assistant Coach with the U12 Boys team to complete his Bronze Gaisce Award. He also began coaching in both the Junior and Senior Academies. With a bit more time on his hands, Sam returned to playing with the U17 Boys team and remains committed to continuing his playing career with the club. He has since become a core part of the Raiders community. The following year, Sam earned his Silver Gaisce Award while coaching in the newly formed St Laurence’s Academy.

Since then, Sam has continued to grow as both a player and coach. He now holds a Level One Coaching License and, as of September 2024, has been appointed Head Coach of our St Laurence’s Academy, where he plans and delivers weekly sessions. He also serves as Assistant Coach for Basketball Ireland’s U15 Leinster Academy, helping to develop the next generation of Irish basketball talent and supporting talent identification for future development opportunities.

In addition to his coaching, Sam is a Club Affiliated Referee, officiating across both local and national league competitions. He joined the National League Officiating Panel (NLOP) in September 2024. His refereeing highlights include appointments to Women’s National League and U20 Men’s National League games, reaching as far as the quarter-finals in both league and cup competitions. Most notably, Sam was recently selected to referee the final of the U17 Billy Kelly Tournament in Cork—one of the most prestigious youth tournaments in Irish basketball.

As a player, Sam currently competes with the Senior Men’s team, where he was part of the D4 Top 4 winning squad, and also plays with the club’s BIDL Men’s team.