Team plans to build game around shooter

American sharpshooter Jack Leasure has signed with the Taranaki Mountain Airs for next year's National Basketball League competition.

Taranaki Basketball chairman John Kensington confirmed yesterday Leasure would return for a second season with the Airs.

"It's good for us. When you get someone back, you know what you are getting," Kensington said. "We can now build our game around him."

Kensington said Leasure had impressed in first year in the New Zealand league.

"As our main shooter, he was always under pressure but still got some good figures. Teams double teamed Jack all the time but he still managed to shoot the ball," he said.

"He's a good player. He trains hard and his work ethic is out and out. He's a genuine nice guy."

Leasure, a 24-year-old shooting guard, graduated from Coastal Carolina University in 2008 and played professionally in Austria in 2009.

Kensington said the key now was to find another shooter.

"If we can do that, we'll be right."

Kensington said the hunt was also on for a second import – a big man.

"Jack knows what we want and is on the lookout for us. He's given Dave (coach Dave Bublitz) a couple of guys to look at."

Bublitz, who has taken over from Angelo Hill, said having Leasure back was good news.

"It's really exciting. Jack was sixth overall in scoring in the league this year. We'll use him a little differently this year, more as a point guard and try to find a scoring New Zealander as a two guard. We're talking to a couple of guys now."

Bublitz said Leasure had impressed him as both a shooter and a player who works hard.

"He's a good team man and hard worker. Hopefully we can get a bunch of guys who want to work hard and improve both individually and as a team."

Kensington said that with a new coach in place and one import signed, the Mountain Airs were in a better place than they were at the same time last year.

"We've got contracts in front of a few players and things are looking good,' he said.

"We're talking with the local players and also a couple of the older ones are considering comebacks. Link (former captain Link Abrams) has said he wants to be considered and that's great."

Kensington added this year's captain Aaron Nowell-Bailey was close to signing.

- © Fairfax NZ News