NBL1: Ringwood Hawks import Jacob Gibson departs after three seasons

After three brilliant seasons, Ringwood Hawks import Jacob Gibson is looking to test himself in Europe

Jacob Gibson heads to the basket picture: Erin Hynson

There are many difficult parts to the job of head coach of an NBL1 club.

The pressure to win games, recruiting talented players and scouting are just a few labours that go with the territory.

But, according to Ringwood Hawks boss Ken Harrington, there is one unavoidable part of the job.

Last week popular Hawks import Jacob Gibson confirmed to the club that he will not be returning for what would have been his fourth season with the club.

The news was a reminder to the Hawks coach that he has some work to do to find a replacement for a player who’s become popular all around the Maroondah area.

“Jacob has been here three years and I told him, only the very special ones get three years at our club,” Harrington said last week. “He has coached hundreds of kids, visited countless schools, coached various teams, sweet talked sponsors and won two state championships.

“Where do I start to find another player and person like this?”

It has been quite a historic run for Gibson and the Hawks since his arrival in early 2017.

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Jacob Gibson, king of the kids, on one of his many school visits Picture: Erin Hynson

Apart from the championship wins, the Hawks won promotion to the new NBL1 league and, when healthy, they have shown they are capable of being a contending team.

Gibson has been Mr. Consistent every season, averaging around the 20 points a game but with the ability to blow teams off the court with his three-point shooting.

Injuries this year slowed him down slightly in the second half of this season after a red hot start.

The temptation to check out European basketball has finally won out, and Gibson is hoping to continue his playing career on another continent and his agent is currently looking at what options are available for a 195cm (6’5”) wing player with shooting ability.

Harrington thinks Gibson should have no trouble finding opportunities.

“Any club would be crazy not to take a guy like him,” Harrington said. “Great on the court and great off the court, reliable and trustworthy. That’s the best way to sum him up.”

Breaking ties with the Hawks has been a difficult decision for Gibson who went on the club’s social media pages to thank all the people that he is grateful to over his three years in Melbourne.

Another very popular Hawks import, Sam Belt. Picture: Sam Belt

The video went 11 minutes and he said he still didn’t really cover as much as he wanted to.

“This is a special place with special people,” Gibson said. “I have had meals with so many families from the club, been taken to beach houses, visited injured kids and even house sat for people who needed to go way for a few days.

“It is a community that really embraced me and I don’t expect that I will find that ever again.”

Gibson will depart the Ringwood Hawks Basketball Club leaving it a better place for his contribution.

Joey Miller and Jacob Gibson with Brady Cochrane prior to the annual clubfeet fundraising match at Ringwood Picture: Penny Stephens

Much like players that came before him — Sam Belt, Bryan Dougher and Nate Champion — their impact is felt well after they have moved on.

Harrington will now start the process of finding another Jacob Gibson.

“There are so many upset kids and club supporters that are sad to see Jacob move on, he is a hard act to follow,” Harrington said. “I probably have spent more time with him the last three years than I have with my family but life goes on and we will now watch him on his next journey.”