Bay Hawks swoop on Jets pair

Two Manawatu Jets have flown the coop to the Bay Hawks for next season.

American import Jamil Terrell left after he said nobody from the Jets approached him about re-signing, and Ben Valentine, the tallest Jet last year at 2.08m, has shifted for employment reasons.

"The Jets didn't really offer me anything," Terrell said. "They just thought that since I was in town, no-one would pick me up. But they didn't approach me at the right time either."

The 1.98m Terrell averaged 14.6 points and 10.3 rebounds a game after coming in as a replacement for fellow American Kareem Grant.

Valentine, who is based in Napier and employed by Sport Hawke's Bay, is having another operation to clear up his achilles tendon which he ruptured this season.

"I got an awesome job opportunity helping people with disabilities get into sport and being active," he said.

No player has signed a deal with the Jets, despite other franchises swooping in for signatures in a league that will have a diluted talent pool with two new teams next year.

The Otago Nuggets are back and Southland are understood to be flush with funds to pillage top talent from around the country.

The main problem springs from the Jets not having signed a new coach after Tim McTamney's resignation.

Jets chairman Rick Pene said four applicants had been identified and a decision would be made by the end of the month. Then players would be signed.

Captain Kaine Hokianga will be in Palmerston North next year after securing a first-year teaching job at Palmerston North Intermediate Normal School.

He is working on getting his body in order for next year, after niggling injuries from this season stuck with him.

Power forward Gareth Dawson has signed a development contract with the Woollongong Hawks in the Australian National Basketball League and will play for the Christchurch Cougars next season in the National Basketball League.

Dawson, 20, filled the void left by Valentine's absence this year and was the find of the season for the Jets, proving himself a strong rebounder.

Dan Peck, a former New Zealand Breakers academy player who had two seasons with the Jets, said he had not put pen to paper with any team yet and was living in Christchurch.

"I'm still keeping my options open for next year," he said.

"I'm definitely open to talking to them [Manawatu] if they were keen."

Bench players Jordan Te Kani, Josh O'Connell and Piers Finch will all be back in Palmerston North next year to study.

Kere Harnett, who suited up six times and got off the bench in three games this season, will be back in Auckland.

Bench guard Paul Bristol said he was planning on being available for the Jets because he had a newborn child and did not want to move his family.

His father Terry was in talks to return as the team's manager again but the final outcome would be determined by the new coach.

This season's starting point guard Aidan Daly did not return calls and American import Marcel Jones could not be reached for comment.

- © Fairfax NZ News