After what appeared to be an eternity of waiting for their fans, the JackJumpers announced their first recruit of the free Agency on Tuesday, with Anthony Drmic joining Tasmania on a one year deal.
The move had been widely speculated after Drmic and his previous team, the Adelaide 36ers, were unable to agree to terms on the second year :mutual”option of his contract. In addition DrmIc is close friends with former teammate Jack McVeigh.
Drmic was one of one of the highlights of a disappointing 36ers season. He’d returned to Adelaide after a couple of seasons in Brisbane, and saw hs scoring increase to 10.3 points per game, shot 32% from deep and was consistently the 36ers best defender outside of Antonios Cleveland.
JackJumpers coach Scott Roth is excited in what the 31-year-old veteran can bring to Tasmania.
âHeâs a pesky defender and an irritative guy when you have to play against him. His shooting is obviously something that was very attractive to us, and then just that experience and his age, having been around a little bit he knows what it means to compete nightly, and so he ticks a lot of boxes and really has that grit and grind mentality weâre looking forâ.
Drmic is excited about joining the JackJumpers squad and ready tp get down to business.
âyou have got to come in and earn your keep, I want to get over there and get to work. I just want to help the team and help the community, I want to put Tassie on top.
Having played against the JackJumpers across the last two seasons, he is very aware of their hard working style of play, and feels his game will transition well to the JackJumpers.
âOne thing Iâve tried to hang my hat on my whole career is be one of the guys playing the hardest and when youâre playing against Tassie, youâre playing against 12 guys who are playing as hard as you are, so being able to be a part of that I feel like Iâm going to fit in perfectly.
Drmic is currently playing for the West Adelaide Bearcats in the NBL1 Central, and will move to mid- July to begin pre-season.
Kenyon farewells Tassie
As a new player arrives, another one departs, with Matt Kenyon signing a 2-year deal with the South East Melbourne Phoenix.
One of the final players signed to the JackJumpers inaugural roster, Kenyon excelled in Roth’s defensive minded system, elevating from the bench to regular starting minutes. After two one-year deals with Tasmania, it appears a fresh start at a new club and the stability of a 2-year deal was the best way forward for the 25-year-old.
âWe offered him a contract and it didnât work out, thatâs fine and we move on,” Roth said.
Roth also reflected on Kenyon, Isaac White and Sam McDaniel moving to other NBL clubs during the free agency period.
âIt is a bit sentimental with these guys because they were here at the start and theyâre high character guys that have made a huge impact here, so we wish them well.
âWe feel our program gives guys, who are underdogs and need a second chance, that this is their landing spot and itâs a place to reignite yourself.. so weâre quite proud that these guys are getting better contracts and come out of here as better players and better people, and they are really sought afterâ Roth said.
