Todd hunts opportunities with Sharks
BASKETBALL
Brendon Egan Jimmy Todd believes that when you are presented with an opportunity, you grasp it with both hands.
So when Southland Sharks coach Richard Dickel got in touch with the Australian-raised basketballer with Kiwi parentage about moving to Invercargill to play in New Zealand’s national league, he did not have to think twice.
Todd was a late starter to the sport, not picking up a basketball until he was 17.
However, Todd, 24, has made up for lost time, working hard on his game and now reaping the rewards.
After bouncing around the Australian Basketball Association competition, he earned a development player spot in the Australian NBL with the Gold Coast Blaze this season. Playing for the Sharks would be another chance to improve his all-round game and continue his development.
‘‘I’ve picked up the ball and I’m going with everything that’s thrown at me,’’ Todd told The Southland Times.
‘‘I’ve taken everything as it comes. You can never turn down opportunities and once I heard about the Sharks, it was my next goal, and I decided I really wanted to be apart of it.’’
Dickel was alerted to Todd through friend and former Otago Nuggets’ American star Leonard King, who coached Todd at the Brisbane Spartans in the South East Australian Basketball League. The 197cm, 105kg Todd can play either small forward or power forward. He should be a handy backup off the bench for the Sharks this season.
Dickel said Todd was a
very sound defensive player and was known for his rebounding ability.
Southland needs help in both areas of play.
‘‘Jimmy is indicative of someone, who has come through the Australian system. He’s very aggressive, strong and athletic, and can do some good things,’’ Dickel said.
‘‘We’re excited to have him here. He could cause some surprises in some games in this league this year.’’
Todd was born in Perth to a New Zealand mother. He spent his formative years in Western Australia before moving across the Tasman, where he went to intermediate school in Pukekohe.
He attended Box Hill Senior Secondary College in Melbourne before completing his apprenticeship as an industrial refrigeration mechanic.
Todd was able to learn from one of New Zealand’s finest basketballers at the Gold Coast Blaze, where Pero Cameron is the assistant coach.
He said Cameron had been a wonderful influence in the short time he spent with him and had passed on plenty of wisdom.
‘‘He opened my eyes to a lot of things – especially working oneon-one with him. ‘‘He knows so much. ‘‘Even though he’s not the most athletic man, he knows how to read plays and has great vision.’’
Blaze coach Joey Wright will be keeping a close eye on Todd’s progress in New Zealand.
Todd admitted he would love to gain a fulltime-roster position with the team next season.
The Zero Fees-sponsored Sharks tip off their New Zealand NBL season against Hawke’s Bay in Napier on March 2.