Essington star Raymond Jarrett heads to South Adelaide in NBL1 Central to attempt a title victory

ESSINGTON Cannons import Raymond ‘RJ’ Jarrett has made a big impression on Darwin basketball in recent years, but is now heading south in hot pursuit of winning an NBL 1 Central Championship with South Adelaide.

Essington star Raymond Jarrett is off to play for South Adelaide in the NBL1 Central competition. Picture: Glenn Campbell

ESSINGTON Cannons import Raymond ‘RJ’ Jarrett has made a big impression on Darwin basketball in recent years but is now heading south in hot pursuit of winning an NBL1 Central championship with South Adelaide.

The 30-year-old from Kansas City enjoyed a big season with Essington despite not playing in his natural shooting guard position, with the side making it to the preliminary final with a rebuilding young outfit and against the odds.

Jarrett, who has played and coached in Dubai, China and Japan, played an integral role in the Cannons’ success, finishing the season with 561 points (third best in the league), 115 turnovers (top in the league) and 252 rebounds (fourth best).

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Now his eyes are set on the NBL1 Cental with a championship in mind, and the potential of staking a claim to take part in the NBL, with his new club being only down the road from the Adelaide 36ers.

“I think it’s a great opportunity for me to see something else in a different part of Australia and still play some good basketball,” Jarrett told the NT News.

“They reached out to me towards the end of the Darwin season and I’m going to be playing as the shooting guard, which will be nice as it’s my natural position.

“The coaching is really focused on winning a championship, and I want to have that chance to play in that system with a lot of young talent and NBL signings in the side.

“It will be my first time playing in the NBL1 but I’ve heard some great things. There’s a lot of respect in the league and it looks like a good challenge.

“Getting a chance in the NBL would be ideal. The Sixers are right around corner so if I produce at this level maybe I could get some practice in with them.

“Getting the championship will be the main goal and individually to play my role and fit into the team and community down there. If I work for the team everything will come from there.”

Darwin was Jarrett’s first true introduction to Australia and the star has enjoyed finding his place in the community, both on and off the basketball court.

In that time he’s played for Ansett, Palmerston and finally Essington where he and his squad were happy to prove their doubters wrong in making the finals.

Cannons star Raymond Jarrett (left) takes on Ansett’s Fred Williams. Picture: Glenn Campbell

The Cannons would go on to upset Ansett 108-103 in the minor semi-final, with Jarrett in particular looking to settle a score, before the side was beaten 125-84 by Tracy Village in the preliminary final.

Fellow import Elijah Barbour and captain Lachlan Shipway also played massive roles in the finals run, while young gun Bumi Tut set himself as one with plenty of potential.

“It was a great season with Cannons. A lot of people counted us out and didn’t think we had it, but we proved them wrong getting into finals,” Jarrett said.

“We peaked at the right time coming into finals but just couldn’t get the job done in the end, but I believe we got as much out of our side as we could.

“EB (Barbour) could also find his way into an NBL1 side mainly due to his shooting ability. “Teams are always looking for shooters and when you have his ability you will be in demand.

“It’s been such a great learning experience being in Darwin playing basketball, but also serving and connecting with the community, as a lot of things were new to me.

“Darwin will always be my first Aussie home.”

And while Jarrett would enjoy a visit home to see family he recognises, such a trip during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic is one that will limit the mobility that is crucial to his playing career.

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“Ideally I would like to visit family but am hoping everything is more stable when I do get to as I don’t want to get stuck in the States, because getting to play as I do is all about mobility for me,” he said.