Roman Siulepa and Tasmania JackJumpers part ways

The Tasmania JackJumpers chair has questioned teen sensation Roman Siulepa’s commitment to basketball after he decided against putting his full focus into the sport. Here’s what happened.

Roman Siulepa has parted ways with the Tasmania JackJumpers. Pictures: JackJumpers Media

Tasmania JackJumpers chair Steve Old has questioned teen sensation Roman Siulepa’s commitment to basketball, revealing the axed Next Star ignored a club ultimatum to give up rugby and focus on hoops.

Old said Queenslander Siulepa, 18, arrived in Tasmania with injuries, earlier this year, but continued to play basketball and GPS rugby at Brisbane State High School, despite the club’s edict.

During a four-day training stint with the JackJumpers earlier this year, a physical revealed those injuries.

“We asked him to commit to the club and if he went back to Brisbane he wouldn’t continue to play rugby because we didn’t think it was going to be beneficial for his body,” Old said.

“He chose to go back and continue to play rugby. As a club, we had to make a decision around whether it was in the best interest in the 15 players we had on our roster to continue to keep Roman in our club.

“We’re not going to force anyone to be at our club. A lot of other people are knocking down the doors of wanting to be here.

“We’re not going to compromise our program ever for any one individual. We haven’t got time to wait around and that’s not a go at Roman, that’s anyone.

“In the best interest of Roman, as a 17-year-old who lives in Brisbane, if he’s not sure if he wants to make a commitment to basketball or he wants to do rugby, he needs to sort that out himself.”

Old said the club would never put a line through Siulepa’s name as a future recruit in future years and was confident he could have a big future in the sport if he chose to commit.

“He will be a superstar if he commits to basketball, I just don’t think he was ready to do that in Hobart at the moment.

“We’re not prepared to wait around for people to decide if they want to play for our basketball club.”

A source told this masthead, Adelaide is intrigued by the supremely talented young gun.

The 36ers had planned to go into the season without a Next Star but could change tact with Siulepa’s renewed availability.

Veteran Adelaide point guard Jason Cadee has been a long-time mentor for Siulepa, helping him navigate the pressures and pitfalls of being a highly-recruited teen.

Siulepa has long had battles with homesickness and Cadee’s presence could help Siulepa acclimatise in the City of Churches.

Melbourne United, Cairns and Illawarra are the other teams sans Next Stars.

When he originally signed a deal with the JackJumpers it was expected he would make the move to the Apple Isle after completing his secondary school studies.

Cairns declined to say whether it was interested in Siulepa, directing this masthead to NBL Next Stars general manager Liam Santamaria.

Old said the JackJumpers couldn’t “get distracted any further” in the lead-up to the new NBL season.

It comes after Jack McVeigh earned a two-way NBA deal with the Houston Rockets while there is still reported interest in big man Will Magnay.

Originally published as Roman Siulepa and Tasmania JackJumpers part ways