Ansett star guard James Toohey’s glass is still half full about career at Central Maine Community College Mustangs despite pathetic scenes in Washington DC, COVID

RISING Ansett guard James Toohey still has faith that he will finally be able to achieve his dream of playing college basketball in the US this year, despite the shocking political protest scenes in Washington DC.

Star Ansett guard James Toohey is ready for a second move to Eltham Basketball Club. Picture: Glenn Campbell

RISING Ansett guard James Toohey still has faith that he will finally be able to achieve his dream of playing college basketball in the US this year, despite the shocking political protest scenes in Washington DC.

Not to mention the ongoing COVID-19 crisis, which has brought many parts of the country to a standstill, with the national death toll passing a staggering figure of 361,000.

Toohey signed to play for Central Maine Community College Mustangs in May last year, a few months after the spread of coronavirus halted international travel.

Local basketball talent James Toohey becomes the latest Territorian to sign with Central Maine Community College

Crucial points from James Toohey in the dying minutes against Ellas Titans keep Ansett’s top two hopes alive in Darwin Basketball

Sky the limit for NT star prospect April Rummery Lamb as she signs with American college and NBL1 side

Canberra Capitals star and NT product Abby Cubillo believes she can stand out in WNBL in 2021

He then moved to Eltham Basketball Club in Melbourne as part of its under-23 program, before a big COVID ­outbreak in the Victorian ­capital also put a halt to his southern plans.

So he moved back to Darwin and starred for his father Steve Toohey’s side, finishing the 2020 DBA Championship season with a respectable 15.11 average points per game, with 46 three-pointers at a ­percentage of almost 36 ­beyond the arc.

The 19-year-old is set to head back down to Eltham to play in the Big V.

Ansett’s James Toohey attempts a jump shot in the paint against Tracy Village in Round 20 of the 2020 DBA Championship season. Picture: Che Chorley

And the eternal optimist is hoping the political and public health situation in the US will improve in the coming months so he can then play for Dave Gonyea’s Mustangs ­outfit from August.

“I’m pretty excited to head back down there,” Toohey told the NT News.

“Last year was a bit of a write-off, but it gave me a chance to sit back a bit, enjoy the game up here and continue preparing myself for the future.

“I treated being back up here like another off-season of training.

“Hopefully by August the situation in America improves and I can get over there to play and study architecture. I speak to Dave once or twice a week.”

In the meantime, Toohey cannot wait to play for Eltham in a super-competitive league.

Ansett’s James Toohey looks for attacking options against Tracy Village during Round 13 of the 2020 Men's Darwin Basketball Championship. Picture: Glenn Campbell

“I’ll be playing in probably the strongest under-23 competition in the country at the moment,” he said.

“We’ll be training with NBL1 players all the time, and that’ll be a goal of mine – to play in that competition.

“I’ll be sitting back waiting patiently for my opportunity there.

“I’ve always wanted to go and play at a college in the US, especially after (Ansett teammate) Freddy Webb and ­(Essington’s) Lachlan Shipway went over to play for the ­Mustangs.”

Playing in the NBL is also a long-term goal for the ­supremely gifted Territory representative.

“I think going away to play for a college in the US is a great stepping stone for those who want to come back and play in the NBL,” he said. “And I’ve worked hard on getting myself mentally stronger.”