May 15, 2008
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The self-proclaimed “best dart player at Vanderbilt,” senior center and St. Helens, England, native Alan Metcalfe enjoyed the most productive season of his four-year Vanderbilt career this past season. Beyond the basketball court, the Commodores’ British import is a marksman when it comes to throwing darts. He has lost just one match in the last two years. In May, Metcalfe will graduate with a degree in economics and a minor in philosophy.
On his aspirations after graduation
Hopefully I’ll be able to carry on playing somewhere in Europe. I don’t really want to play in England yet. The competition isn’t great there, and the money is even worse. I just want to play for a couple of more years and get a little bit more experience. I really enjoy coaching. When I was back home, I would coach our high school team and a couple of other teams. That is something I would look into doing long-term.
On the basketball player he grew up idolizing
John Amaechi is really the guy that I look up to. We had the same coach (in England). We are pretty good friends and stay in touch. He’d always beat me when he’d come home, of course, because he was in the NBA at that time. He actually got a start in basketball after playing rugby, too, when he was 15 or 16, so maybe I can be on the same track as him – go to Europe and then come back to the NBA.
On how he developed his outside shooting touch
I think some of it goes back to rugby. When you pass a rugby ball you try to rotate it and spin it a little bit, so when I’m flicking my wrist I have a little bit more technique of holding the ball and following through.
On the popularity of basketball in England
Basketball probably ranks fourth or fifth. It’s not one of the top sports. It’s the same way as soccer in the U.S., where it is still getting bigger.
On the growth of basketball in England
It is getting a lot bigger. Still, there isn’t a lot of sponsorship, so the financing of teams isn’t great. You might get one or two players that are a decent wage, but everyone else has a job on the side to make ends meet.
On switching from playing rugby to playing basketball
I went on a tryout for rugby to go on a tour of Australia when I was 15. I got whiplash in the second trial and that stopped me from playing.
On making the England national team
I had only been playing basketball for six months at the time. I went on a tryout for the national team, and within three months I was on the national team. They saw something in me that I could become a decent player. They stuck with me, and I never looked back.
On trying to help England make the 2012 Olympics
Hopefully next year I’ll be back on the men’s (national) team, and in 2012 we can represent in London at the Olympics. That would be a great experience.
On how he picked up playing darts
My dad got me my first dartboard when I was 10 years old. My grandma (Mary Metcalfe) won a lot of tournaments in our region. She would beat me when I was younger, so it ran in the family a little bit with the eye accuracy of the darts. My dad and I would just throw, and he would always beat me until about four years ago.
On where he plays in Nashville
The Villager and Buffalo Billiards. They both have dart boards that are pretty good.
On his favorite dart player of all-time
Dennis “The Menace” Priestley
On if guys on the team have taken a liking to darts
It is picking up in the U.S. a little bit. We had it on T.V. in the locker room a couple of times and guys were asking me what was going on. We talked about it a little bit.
On if anyone on the team has ever challenged him
I had a dartboard in my room last year, and Dan Cage challenged me a couple of times. He got really good, and he’s one of those guys that if he starts something, he will practice until he can beat you.
