JETT SET FOR NBL TAKE- OFF WITH CROCODILES
THEY may be almost 14,000km away from the action in Townsville but the American city of St Paul, Minnesota, will be right behind their hometown hero Jordair Jett in his NBL debut tomorrow night.
The 24- year- old starred in college for St Louis University from 2010- 14 and after rehabbing a knee injury over the past year, the dreadlocked combo guard signed with the Crocodiles to begin his life as a pro baller.
No one will follow his first game against Melbourne Unit- ed closer than his family and friends on the other side of the world, with Jett’s mother Glenda set to host the festivities in the early hours of the morning.
“My whole family will be watching, the whole city, everybody is watching, so that will be fun and my ma is my biggest fan,” Jett said.
“By Friday I’ll be 100 per cent and this will be my first professional experience so it’s exciting to finally get back out on the court and play.
“I’ve got a little bit of something to prove out here still, just because I had to sit out a year with my injury, but for me I don’t feel the pressure.”
Being a new face to the league means Jett doesn’t know a lot about his Melbourne opponents but one face he is more than aware of is NBA journeyman and United forward Hakim Warrick.
Warrick built a reputation as a devastating dunker in his 526- game NBA career, and while plenty of hype surrounds him and a stacked Melbourne line- up, Jett is more focused on leading his team to a seasonopening victory.
“I watched Hakim in the NBA when I was a little younger, I know what he’s all about but I’m not really worried about what he does, I’m just trying to get this team a win,” he said.
“They are good shooters, they shoot the three- point ball well and are good in transition but other than that I don’t really know much about their players.”
Crocs assistant coach Greg Vanderjagt praised Jett’s hard work and said fans could expect to see great things from the dynamic young guard.
“He admitted himself he probably came in not in the condition he needed to be in to be an NBL level import but that’s improved over the last four weeks and he’s really worked his backside off,” he said.
“He has a point to prove, as every import in this league does, so the challenge is there for him and he’s ready to step up to the plate.”