NBL Signings

GOLD COAST BLAZE SIGN TWO-TIME CHAMPIONSHIP PLAYER

VETERAN HOARE TO HEAD SOUTH FOR SEASON 2010-2011

THE Gold Coast Blaze 2010-2011 NBL championship hopes rose significantly today with the signing of Melbourne Tiger dual championship winner and Townsville Crocodile Stephen Hoare.

The veteran thirty-year-old forward, who at one time looked destined to finish his career in Townsville, chose the Blaze over a number of lucrative NBL club offers in the off-season.

He won championships with the Melbourne Tigers in 2005-2006 and 2007-2008 and last season averaged 7.7 points, 3.8 rebounds and 1.8 assists to be voted the Crocodiles' player's player.

Hoare’s signing will be warmly welcomed by Blaze fans, coming as it does just days after Mika Vukona’s announcement that he will return to his native New Zealand to play with the NZ Breakers this season. ''I've always been pretty envious of the Blaze players when I've played on the Coast, it will be a great place to live, so to move here now is pretty exciting and an opportunity I'm really looking forward to,'' he said.

''It's good to be signed up early and be part of the building blocks for next season, the club has already signed a good nucleus of players and that will only improve.''


''Joey Wright is one of the best coaches going around, so it all points to a successful year.'' Blaze head coach Joey Wright says Hoare offers a wealth of experience to his lineup. Stephen has played in four grand finals and brings a very high level of basketball IQ to the Blaze,” Wright said. “He’s a very smart player, very intelligent. He has a great temperament and poise and never gets rattled on-court,” he said.

Wright said he is pleased Hoare chose the Blaze over early retirement consideration and the other NBL offers. “Rat (assistant coach Ron Radliffe) and I used to watch him from afar and we really liked his controlled style.

“We never thought we’d get the chance to coach him, so we’re pretty excited about that. “What fans can expect from Stephen is a really, really hard worker on the offensive and defensive boards and no one can ask for more than that in a player,” he said.

Stephen Hoare is one of the most successful and decorated basketballers currently playing in the NBL. Amongst a host of other achievements he:

• Winner of 2005/06 & 2006/07 NBL Best Sixth Man award
• Won championships with the Melbourne Tigers in 2005-2006 and 2007-2008 and played in the 2006-2007 and 2008-2009 Grand Finals;
• Was a member of the 2004-2005 NBL All-Star team and part of the Australian Under 23 squad in 1996;
• Was selected on the ABA Conference First Team in 2001 and 2002;
•  Had the best 2008 NBL field goal percentage, shooting 60.5% (135/223);
• Was the winner of the Melbourne Tigers’ Mr Efficient award in 2006-2007 and 2007-2008.

The confirmed Blaze 2010-2011 signings as of Wednesday 14^th April 2010 are:

Chris Goulding

Adam Gibson

Anthony Petrie

James Harvey

WNBA Draft

From Basketball Australia

TWO AUSSIES DRAFTED INTO WNBA

Australians Alison Lacey and Brigitte Ardossi have been drafted into America’s elite basketball league the Women’s National Basketball Association.

Lacey from Canberra was selected at pick 10 to the Seattle Storm with Ardossi from Melbourne going at pick number 21 to Atlanta Dream.

22 year-old Lacey stands at 183cm and has been playing for Iowa State as a guard for the last four seasons working her way onto the AP All-America honouree list this year and one of 14 invited to the Draft.

Lacey who will join Australia’s most accomplished basketballer Lauren Jackson at Seattle, is second to Jackson (pick one, 2001) as Australia’s highest WNBA pick. Lacey represented the ACT at the Under 18 and Under 20 Australian National Junior Championships, attended the Basketball ACT Intensive Training Centre and was a participant in the Basketball Australia’s National Intensive Training Program as well as the ACT Academy of Sport.

Footage of Lacey’s selection at the WNBA Draft. 

187cm, Ardossi was taken from Georgia Tech. The 22 year-old made the All-ACC First Team this year and was named State of Georgia Women’s Basketball Player of the Year (2010).  

Prior to going to college to play Ardossi was a part of the Melbourne Tigers' Championship Division team, averaging 12.2 points and 8.8 rebounds per game.

She participated in the Under 20 Australian National Junior Championships, where she helped her team to a silver medal. She led the Victorian U18 team to the gold medal at the Pacific School Games in 2005, where she was named a tournament all-star. Ardossi was named the 2005 Big V Australian Basketball League Most Valuable Player and Leading Scorer while also earning Rising Star and All-Star 5 Forward accolades.

Ogilvy Going Pro

From the NBL

AUSTRALIAN AJ OGILVY DECLARES FOR NBA DRAFT

Australian basketballer A.J. Ogilvy has announced that he has decided to forgo his senior US college season at Vanderbilt University in order to enter the 2010 NBA Draft.

"I talked with my family and coaches here, and I think (going pro) is what's best for me,” Ogilvy said at a press conference to announce his decision. “I really enjoyed all my time at Vanderbilt. I really want to thank the coaches and fans for everything they've done for me. I'm just excited to try to get my game to the next level."

Ogilvy has also taken the step of hiring an agent, the Wasserman Group, meaning he has now forgone his collegiate eligibility and cannot return to college.

"This is what I wanted to do. Once I put my name in, I wanted to put all my effort and time into it," Ogilvy added, when asked why he hired an agent.


The 6’11” center from Sydney is a three-time All-SEC performer and averaged 15.3 points and 6.7 rebounds per game in three years at Vanderbilt. He is the Commodores' all-time leader in free throws made (471) and blocks per game (1.51), and earlier this year became only the second player in Commodore history to record 1,000 points and 100 blocks in his career.

Ogilvy attended the Australian Institute of Sport and represented Australia at the FIBA Under-19 World Championship in July 2007. At that event, he averaged 22.3 points and 9.8 rebounds while shooting 69 percent from the field and 78.8 percent from the foul line in nine games. He finished third in scoring and posted six double-doubles, including a 32-point and 11-rebound effort against Spain. He helped the Australians sweep the field in Group F and finish fifth with an 8-1 mark, losing to Brazil in the quarterfinals.

"We certainly appreciate everything A.J. has done, both on and off the floor, at Vanderbilt," said Vanderbilt head coach Kevin Stallings. "He has had a very accomplished career, and will hopefully experience the same kind of success as a professional. A.J. has been instrumental in our two NCAA Tournament berths in the last three years and has demonstrated a very good work ethic from the very first day he walked on campus."
"Hopefully his agent's projection of being a late first-round draft pick is accurate and he will have a long and prosperous NBA career," continued Stallings.

The NBA Draft is set for June 24 in New York City.

Two other Australians were also drafted to the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) earlier today. Alison Lacey of Canberra was chosen with the number 10 pick by the Seattle Storm, the team that Opals superstar Lauren Jackson plays for. Victorian Brigitte Ardossia also went at number 21 to the Atlanta Dream.

NBL Returns to Northern Territory

From the nbl

NBL STARS BOUNCE BACK TO THE TERRITORY

Northern Territory sports fans are set for a feast of top-level basketball after Minister for Sport and Recreation Karl Hampton today announced the return of National Basketball League action for the NBL Top End Challenge 2010.
“Basketball is a hugely popular sport in the Territory and I am excited to announce today that the official 2010 NBL pre-season competition will be held in Alice Springs and Darwin in September,” said Mr Hampton.
“Last year’s tournament was a great success, raising the profile of basketball in the Territory, creating business opportunities, and thrilling crowds with spectacular hoops action.
“Today I can confirm that the NBL’s finest will be returning to the Territory in September to thrill crowds at Marrara Indoor Stadium and the Alice Springs Basketball Stadium for the Top End Challenge.”
Mr Hampton said it is particularly good news for the Centralian basketball community.
“It’s fantastic to be able to bring this event to fans in Alice Springs, who have not seen an NBL game for more than a decade; I am sure they will make the opening game a blockbuster.”
The tournament is expected to feature all nine teams from the expanded NBL competition, including the newly returned Sydney Kings franchise.
“The NBL is rebuilding strongly and we look forward to seeing the return of the mighty Sydney Kings for their first games in the new-look competition,” said Mr Hampton.
NBL legend and Basketball Australia Chief Executive Officer Larry Sengstock said fans could expect a terrific showcase of the country’s best ballers.
“The Top End Challenge is a unique event on the NBL calendar in that it brings all of our players and coaches together in the one place right before the season tip-off.
“Last year’s event in Darwin was a resounding success and we are delighted to work with the Minister to bring the Top End Challenge back to the Northern Territory in 2010. It will be a fantastic opportunity for Territorians to see world class basketball in their own backyard,” said Mr Sengstock.
As well as playing 12 games, teams will take part in an extensive community engagement program conducting coaching clinics in schools and communities across the Territory, and conducting hospital visits.
“The NT Government is committed to providing elite events for all Territory sports fans and this $200,000 agreement with the NBL cements us as a mainstay of the Australian basketball landscape,” said Mr Hampton.

Elite Classic Final

Rays win Elite Classic

The Rays, owned by Matt Shanahan and Pat Reidy took out the championship of the inaugural High Stakes Hoops tourney in Adelaide.


The title match saw the Rays defeat the Coasters owned by netballer Julie Corletto 95-81. The win brought the team a windfall of $175,000. Shanahan proved to be an astute young coach , being diligent in preparing his team by holding video sessions and using a “Hoya Paranoia” strategy, having his team stay at an off-site hotel through the tourney.


Overall the tourney proved to be an innovative event with crowds steady if not spectacular through the duration of the event. Hopefully it will be a solid base for an annual event. From a fans viewpoint, it would be great to see the purse rise which would hopefully see the talent levels of overseas players boosted. While all imports had stellar credentials by Aussie standard, the fact remains that fans will not see too many just below NBA level players on our shores simply due to financial restrictions. Maybe Foot Lockers continued involvement along with TenHD and a bit more advertising can change that.