Southern basketballers on the team

The Southland Sharks will have strong local representation with several southern players named in their 2018 roster.

The team’s management confirmed that Invercargill players Connor Coll, Jordan Murphy and Andrew Wheeler would retain their place in the team for the 2018 New Zealand National Basketball League.

Head Coach Judd Flavell also announced Lydon Aoake, of Clinton, would be a new addition to the squad.

The dedication shown by the local trio of Coll, Murphy and Wheeler in the last few seasons meant they were always strong candidates to return, Flavell said.

‘‘Those three have been there from my first day here on the job and you love that they keep turning up, pushing themselves and pushing the rest of the group.’’

Aoake had ‘‘racked up the miles to and from Invercargill’’ in the past three months, to put himself in position to break into the NBL, he said.

Promising Southland youngsters Nathan Walker and Luka Williams had been rewarded with their consistency over the pre-season league with selection as development players for the 2018 season.

Zimbabwe-born point guard Tinashe Matambanadzo has also been added to the squad for the NBL pre-season Blitz tournament at Palmerston North this weekend.

The squad assembled in Invercargill on Wednesday, with Reuben Te Rangi, Derone Raukawa and American import Orlando Coleman arriving back in the south. Australian Jarrad Weeks touches down on Monday, while Alex Pledger will link with the Sharks at the Blitz tournament. A third import player is still an option for the Sharks, with NBL rules now allowing a maximum of three per squad.

The Sharks face the Bay Hawks in Taradale in the 2018 NBL season opener on Thursday at 7pm. The game will be live-streamed. The full 2018 SIT Zero Fees Southland Sharks squad includes: Lydon Aoake, Luke Aston, Orlando Coleman, Connor Coll, James Hunter, Jordan Murphy, Alex Pledger, Derone Raukawa, Reuben Te Rangi, Tom Vodanovich, Jarrad Weeks and Andrew Wheeler.