Jets sign up big brothers
The Manawatu¯ Jets have added some much-needed height to the squad in the form of brothers Troy and Shane Temara.
Shane, 2.06 metres, and Troy, 2.04m, give the Jets two big forwards, something that was missing when coach Tim Mctamney named his pre-season squad earlier this month.
Troy, 20, played the back end of the season last year for the Jets after a mid-season transfer from the Canterbury Rams, while Shane, 23, played for the Wellington Saints last year.
‘‘Finding tall, athletic basketball players with genuine ability is never easy,’’ Mctamney said. ‘‘Guys like the Temara brothers don’t grow on trees.’’
Mctamney said the brothers fitted the Jets organisation perfectly.
‘‘We have made a commitment to young, aspiring basketball players of good character, both local and from afar, to build a team through first recognising potential and then embracing their subsequent development.’’
The pair were born and raised in Syracuse, New York, in the United States and played NCAA Division I college basketball.
If they take the court for the Jets it will be the first time they have played together since high school.
Shane reached the Atlantic 10 Conference playoffs while in the US and the national JUCO playoffs. Troy was excited to return to the Jets.
‘‘It’s going to be great to play with Shane.
‘‘We haven’t played together in an organised team since West Genesee High School.
‘‘I think we can certainly use our brotherly connection for the benefit of the team.’’
Both brothers have aspirations of playing for the Tall Blacks and in the NBA.
The NBL draw was released last week and the Jets will open the season with a Thursday-night clash against the Super City Rangers in Palmerston North on April 11.
The Jets are also the first Kiwi side to get a look at new Australian team the Southern Huskies, from Tasmania, a week later in Palmerston North.
There are 18 games, with nine at home.
The Jets have three trips to the South Island and a trip to Tasmania in May to play the Huskies.
They finish the regular season against the Southland Sharks at Invercargill on July 14.
The Jets again have two home games in Whanganui this year, against the Sharks on May 5 and Saints on May 11.
Meanwhile, the Jets recently made a $95,000 payment to the Palmerston North City Council as a full and final settlement, which included this year’s venue fees and settling the franchise’s debt with the council.
Jets chairman Kevin Smith said there was some dated debt with the council and the payment was to tidy that up, as well as secure the venue booking for this season.