That’s Smart recruiting

THE Hobart Chargers’ latest recruiting coup, Brittany Smart, has arrived in Hobart ahead of Friday’s season opener at the Derwent Entertainment Centre. And Smart has promised a nononsense, aggressive approach — including a little push and shove — when the Chargers take on Kilsyth.

NEW Hobart Chargers import Brittany Smart is not here to make friends, at least with the opposition anyway.

Smart, 32, has arrived in Hobart ahead of the Chargers’ first game — at home at the Derwent Entertainment Centre on Friday night.

The feisty US point guard might be small in stature but she is set to make a big impact.

“Hopefully just aggressive physicality,” Smart said when asked what fans can expect to see. “I do like to shove and push and I’m a hustler and then hopefully just out of that can come just the creativity, whether that is creating for myself or my teammates to make their lives easier.”

A product of the US college system, she has also played professionally in Belgium and Sweden and the past three years in the WNBL for the Melbourne Boomers, falling just short in the final playoffs last season.

Chargers coach Dwain Davie has been chasing her signature for three years but finally the planets have aligned to bring Smart south.

Hobart president David Bartlett has set big expectations for both the men’s and women’s sides this year, and Smart welcomed the high aspirations. “It is motivating,” she said. “You go to clubs where they are just putting together a roster but they are not trying to win or reach the team’s potential or individual potential.

“For me especially after playing in all these different countries to go to a club that is very passionate about the game of basketball and very excited about it, it is only going to bring in the best in people.”

The Chargers take on Kilsyth on Friday night, with the women starting at 6pm and the men at 8pm.