HUSKIES SIGN TOP DOG BILLUPS FOR UPCOMING NZ NBL TILT

SOUTHERN Huskies coach Anthony Stewart believes the club’s latest signing has the natural attributes to make the leap to the NBL in the next 12 months.

American Jalen Billups, a 200cm, 120kg power forward, has joined the club as a marquee import for next year’s New Zealand NBL season.

Stewart locked away the former Northern Kentucky product after an outstanding campaign in the Western Australian SBL — the same league he plucked Tre Nichols from for the Hobart Chargers this year — where he was crowned MVP after averaging 22.3 points a match at 60.6 per cent from the field and 8.4 rebounds.

The man mountain joins NBA prospect Harry Froling and North West guard Mason Bragg as confirmed signings, with Chargers SEABL championship pair Mathiang Muo and Nichols expected to follow in the coming week.

However, unless Craig Moller, who has been given a bigger role with Melbourne United in recent times, falls under an average of 7.5 minutes a match with the NBL champions he will be unable to return for the Huskies Kiwi adventure.

The Huskies are allowed an unlimited number of Australian players but only three imports on their roster — either international players or those who average more than 7.5 minutes in the current NBL season.

“If you look at the New Zea- land league, it’s a big league. Obviously, there is a wealth of NBL talent right across the league,” Stewart said.

“Although we have Harry Froling, I felt we needed some protection in case he gets in foul trouble and things like that.

“Looking at Jalen’s highlights and talking to some people over in WA, I think it is a huge pick up for the club and it is really exciting.

“He will make a great impact on the league and someone I believe should be playing NBL in the next 12 months.

“Jalen picked up the MVP and was pretty clear cut, I think this guy is at another level.”

Stewart said he has been in discussions with a host of locals who formed the core Tasmanian contingent of the Chargers SEABL title and their Huskies ambitions.

However, the decision of the Chargers to withdraw their application from the new Victorian Elite league has slightly muddied matters.

“The Chargers were going to be a vital part of what we were doing as far as pathway for the kids,” Stewart said.

“It is disappointing that has fallen away at the moment but we will fill a number of spots for our local guys.

“Conversations with Tiri (Masunda) and BJ (Radcliffe), Jack Stanwix, you could reel them off, most of our guys are knocking on the door already, it would have been great to get one more year under their belt.

“It’s been a tough 72 hours, a lot of meetings and phone calls.”