HISTORY will be made in Hobart tonight as Tasmania’s 25-year absence from the NBL comes to an end when the Tasmania JackJumpers host the Brisbane Bullets in front of a sold out MyState Bank Arena at 7.30pm.
With the game just hours away here’s a look at the 15 players and head coach who will proudly wear the green and gold to represent the Apple Isle.
MiKyle McIntosh #0
- Position: Forward
- Height: 201cm
- Weight: 109kg
- Age: 27
- Home town: Toronto, Canada
McIntosh joins the JackJumpers as one of its three imports after a successful international career which has seen him play professionally in the NBA G League in the US, South Korea, Canada, Belgium and France.
McIntosh is a beast on both ends of the court with the strongly built Canadian possessing elite on ball defence and a solid offensive arsenal.
While McIntosh describes himself as a “3 and D” player he has shown to be much more than that with his ability to work in the post or create his own shot off the dribble.
The hulking McIntosh showed in preseason to be a mismatch nightmare for opposing defences with his combination of size and skill often allowing him to get easy looks at the basket.
When McIntosh is aggressive on offence it provides an X- factor for the JJ’s and much needed scoring support for American duo Josh Adams and Josh Magette.
McIntosh will play plenty of minutes for the newcomers but whether he starts or comes off the bench is an unknown as he has done both in the preseason Blitz.
Coach Scott Roth: “This guy is tough. I mean he’s going to set a tone that I think that we need here. He’s got a work ethic that I think the Tasmanian state will love to get behind.
“Not only is he tough, he’s very versatile. His size, he’s kind of a point forward, he can handle the ball, pass the ball, score the ball, so his versatility was very exciting to me.”
Matt Kenyon #1
- Position: Guard
- Height: 196cm
- Weight: 91kg
- Age: 23
- Home town: Newcastle, NSW
In 2016 Kenyon moved to Canberra to play for the Basketball Australia Center of Excellence where he stayed for one year and since then has most notably played for the Brisbane Bullets, Dandenong Rangers, Ballarat Miners, and earlier this year played for Australia in its 2021 FIBA Asia Cup qualification against New Zealand.
The 6’5 shooting guard is full of energy and is a very aggressive on ball defender that will look to earn playing time through his ability to lock down opposing guards.
Assistant coach Jacob Chance: “Matt is a really important energy and hustle type player for us that hopefully won’t leave anything left on the court.”
Josh Magette #2
- Position: Point guard
- Height: 185cm
- Weight: 73kg
- Age: 32
- Home town: Birmingham, Alabama, USA
The 6’1 American point guard is a wizard with the basketball who due to his high IQ and magical passing has been likened to NBA legend John Stockton.
Magette is the true definition of a floor general and his talents have taken him all over the world including stints with NBA teams the Orlando Magic (2019-20) and Atlanta Hawks (2017-18) with whom he played 26 games for.
Earlier this year Magette was chosen to play for the Team USA Select team which was compiled to scrimmage against Team USA to prepare them for the Tokyo Olympics.
The crafty point guard is one of the heavy favourites to lead the NBL in both assists and steals this season and his ability to make the game easier for his teammates while also providing a scoring threat himself will be vital to the team’s success in its debut season.
Along with his elite passing, Magette is a solid outside shooter and has an array of lay-ups and floaters in his arsenal that allow him to score in the paint despite his stature.
Assistant coach Jacob Chance: “He’s a very highly intelligent point guard that will run the show for us and hopefully be a very good passer for us.”
Fun fact: Magette is second on the all-time assists leaderboard in the NBA G League.
Sejr Deans #7
- Position: Guard
- Height: 187cm
- Weight: 88kg
- Age: 18
- Home town: Launceston, Tasmania
Deans will go down in the history books as both the very first player signed to the JackJumpers and also their only Tasmanian.
The 18 year old was signed as a development player after enjoying a decorated junior career where he represented Tasmania in U16s, U18s, and U20s.
Deans is a defensive minded point guard with a bright future but at this stage of his career will battle for minutes behind star Josh Magette and backup point guard Jarrad Weeks.
Coach Scott Roth:
“Hes hungry and he’s humble … I think he’s got a great future ahead of him.
“The biggest thing is to develop him and allow him to grow in our system and get him around higher-level players and see where he goes.”
Fun fact: Once the NBL season is finished Deans will travel to the US after accepting a basketball scholarship to play for NCAA Division One school Jacksonville University in Florida.
Jack McVeigh #9
- Position: Guard/Forward
- Height: 203cm
- Weight: 95kg
- Age: 25
- Home town: Carabita Beach, QLD
- Height: 203cms
- Weight: 95 kgs
McVeigh joins the JackJumpers from the Adelaide 36ers where he averaged 9.4 points per game last season as a spark plug off the bench.
Despite coming off the bench for the 36ers McVeigh is likely to start for Tasmania and with his infectious high energy playing style is sure to give the JackJumpers fans a reason to smile and get on their feet throughout their debut season.
McVeigh has made a name for himself as a player that the people love to play with and hate to play against due to his energetic antics and his ability to get the crowd involved.
The 6’8 wing is a versatile player that will be expected to do a little bit of everything for the JackJumpers and his production will be vital to support the trio of imports.
JackJumpers assistant coach Jacob Chance: “Jack is a very happy go lucky guy that’s very energy driven and will hopefully bring a lot to us every night.”
Nikita Mikhailovskii #10
- Position: Forward
- Height: 202cm
- Weight: 89kg
- Age: 21
- Home town: Nizhegorodsky, Russia
Mikhailovskii hails from Russia where he made his pro debut at just 17 years of age and since then has represented his country on a number of occasions.
Mikhailovskii was signed by the JackJumpers as part of the NBL’s Next Stars program which aims to fast track the development of young stars around the world in a bid to help them reach the NBA.
Mikhailovskii shot an impressive 41.8 per cent from outside the arc last season in the Russian league and was ranked 86th in ESPN’s top 100 2022 NBA Draft prospects.
While he is currently very raw the 20 year old possesses an athletic 6’7 frame and is a serious outside shooting threat as well as a dangerous player in transition.
Mikhailovskii did not see much action for Tasmania in the preseason Blitz so it will be interesting to see how the season unfolds for the young NBA hopeful as he looks to show enough to reach the world’s best league next season.
JackJumpers assistant coach Jacob Chance: “Nikita is a great shooter and a very good scorer with good size and versatility.”
Sean Macdonald #13
- Position: Guard
- Height: 188cm
- Weight: 87kg
- Age: 21
- Home town: Mackay, QLD
Macdonald is an aggressive point guard that has represented Australia in U17 and U19 level and most recently played for Dandenong in the NBL1 where he averaged 19.4 points and 4 rebounds across 12 games.
Macdonald is a score first point guard that also has the ability to create for others.
It appears Macdonald will be a handy depth player for the JackJumpers as he may find it difficult to find many opportunities playing behind Josh Magette and Jarrad Weeks.
JackJumpers assistant coach Jacob Chance: “Sean is a savvy little point guard that’s a score first guy and hopefully he’ll be nice and aggressive on the offensive end.”
Josh Adams #14
- Position: Guard
- Height: 188cms
- Weight: 86 kgs
- Age: 28
- Home town: Phoenix, Arizona
The high-flying American import was a US college star for Wyoming in 2016 and despite missing out on his NBA dream has had stints with the Denver Nuggets and the Dallas Mavericks in the NBA Summer League.
Adams also played in the NBA G league in 2019 for the Raptors 905 where he averaged 15.6 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 4.4 assists per game across 20 games.
Adams will be the JackJumpers main scoring threat and showed across the preseason games that he loves to put on a show for the crowd using his freakish athleticism and creativity.
Adams describes himself as a combo guard and while he is a very aggressive scoring threat he can also facilitate and get teammates involved.
The Arizona native will have a lot of weight placed on his shoulders in the team’s debut season and his scoring productivity and efficiency will often correlate with the team’s wins and losses.
JackJumpers assistant coach Jacob Chance: “He’s our go-to guy. He’s aggressive and athletic and we’ll be looking to him every night on the offensive end.”
Jock Perry #15
- Position: Center
- Height: 216cm
- Weight: 113kg
- Age: 24
- Home town: Canberra, ACT
Brief background: Perry, who stands a towering 7’1, spent the past four years in the US College system with Saint Mary’s and UC Riverside and returned to Australia to play with the Ballarat Miners in the 2021 NBL1 South season alongside JackJumper teammate Matt Kenyon.
Perry is a modern day big that relies more on his shooting as opposed to a traditional bash and crash low post presence.
While Perry was productive in his minutes in the preseason he may find it difficult to receive many opportunities behind Magnay or when the JJ’s go to a small ball line-up.
JackJumpers assistant coach Jacob Chance: “Jock is a very skilled big man, a great passer with great touch and a good shooter.”
Fabijan Krslovic #20
- Nickname: Fab
- Position: Forward
- Height: 203cm
- Weight: 108kg
- Age: 26
- Home town: Sydney. NSW
Krslovic played for the University of Montana in the US until 2018 and then spent the last three seasons playing with the Cairns Taipans.
Krslovic will be a glue guy for the JJ’s and will mainly be relied on to defend, rebound, and help make life easier for some of his star teammates.
The former Taipan will be in the main rotation and should provide solid backup minutes at the four or five position.
JackJumpers assistant coach Jacob Chance: “Fab is very consistent, he never lets us down and he’s always in the right spot on both ends of the floor.”
Jarred Bairstow #21
- Nickname: JB
- Position: Forward
- Height: 201cm
- Weight: 104kg
- Age: 29
- Home town: Brisbane, QLD
Bairstow is one of three JJ’s players — along with Clint Steindl and Will Magnay- to come across to the newcomers from the Perth Wildcats.
Bairstow has built a reputation off his energy and effort, and his desire to do the grunt work required for his team.
Bairstow will likely be competing for backup minutes to star Will Magnay and while limited offensively he will do the all the hard yards and put his body on the line to allow the stars to shine.
JackJumpers assistant coach Jacob Chance: “He’s a consistent energy guy with a high IQ and always has his teammates back.”
Fun fact: He is the younger brother of Adelaide 36er, and former Chicago Bull, Cameron Bairstow.
Will Magnay #22
- Position: Center
- Height: 208cm
- Weight: 104kg
- Age: 23
- Home town: Brisbane, QLD
Magnay is one of the best defensive bigs in the NBL and will be the anchor of the JackJumpers defence while also providing a well-rounded offensive game and a consistent lob threat.
After a down year with Perth last season Magnay will be hoping a fresh start with the JackJumpers will help him regain his 2020 form with the Brisbane Bullets that saw him named the NBL’s Most Improved Player while also finishing runner up in the Best Defensive Player award.
Magnay’s performance with the Bullets gained the eye of NBA scouts and in December 2020 he was signed to a two way contract with the New Orleans Pelicans but only managed one game before being waived and returning home to join the Perth Wildcats where he struggled to establish himself while battling bone spurs in his foot.
The JackJumpers signed Magnay with the intention of unearthing what made him so good in Brisbane and will look to utilise his elite defensive skills and his touch around the basket.
During his brief stint with the Pelicans it was clear that Magnay bulked up his frame to battle the bigger bodies of the NBA but Magnay has noticeably trimmed his body down and a mean and lean looking Magnay looks primed to return to his best.
Magnay has a well-rounded offensive game and can shoot from deep while also possessing good touch around the rim while always being a lob threat.
Given his age, size and skill, and the fact he’s recovered from the bone spur in his foot, Magnay is primed for a big season for the JackJumpers and will play a huge role on both ends of the floor.
JackJumpers assistant coach Jacob Chance: “He’s athletic above the rim and he’ll bring an x- factor all year offensively and defensively.”
Sam McDaniel #30
- Position: Guard/Forward
- Height: 198cm
- Weight: 102kg
- Age: 25
- Home town: Adelaide, SA
McDaniel is the son of former Hobart Devils superstar Wayne McDaniel but unlike his flashy high scoring father, Sam is a defensive minded guard focused on developing his offensive game with the JackJumpers.
In the 2020/21 NBL season McDaniel played for Melbourne United and played a key role on the defensive end to help them with the NBL Championship
McDaniel is arguably the JJ’s best on ball defender and his aggressive defensive aligns very well with coach Scott Roth’s strong defensive focus which should provide McDaniel with many opportunities this season.
While he is known for his defence, McDonald is improving on the offensive end and over preseason has shown to be a more aggressive offensive player capable of creating his own shot off the dribble.
JackJumpers assistant coach Jacob Chance: “Sam is a consistent, level headed defensive guy who is really hoping to expand his offensive game.”
Clint Steindl #35 (captain)
- Position: Guard/Forward
- Height: 200cm
- Weight: 92kg
- Age: 32
- Home town: Mackay, QLD
Steindl is a two time NBL Champion with the Perth Wildcats that brings a wealth of NBL experience to the JackJumpers and was recently voted team captain by his teammates.
In his 2020/21 season for the Wildcats Steindl helped them reach the 2021 NBL finals series but was hampered by a groin injury during the series which they lost 3-0 to Melbourne United.
Steindl is an athletic scoring wing that along with his leadership will provide a scoring punch for the JackJumpers in support of their trio of imports.
Steindl will be a starter for the JackJumpers and his leadership, defence, and scoring threat will be vital to their success.
JackJumpers assistant coach Jacob Chance: “He’s our captain and leader, and he’s a great shooter that’s still elite in his class and will hopefully bring some level headedness every night.”
Jarrad Weeks #97 (vice-captain)
- Nickname: Agent 97
- Position: Guard
- Height: 183cm
- Weight: 80kg
- Age: 32
- Home town: Melbourne, VIC
Weeks has a wealth of experience having played for the Sydney Kings, Illawarra Hawks, Cairns Taipans, Southland Sharks and New Zealand Breakers on his way to the JackJumpers.
Weeks would also be a familiar face to Tasmanians after playing a starring role for the Hobart Chargers in 2016.
Weeks was recently voted JackJumpers vice-captain by his peers and along with his leadership will provide a spark off the bench as the backup for star Josh Magette.
JackJumpers assistant coach Jacob Chance: “He’s got energy and bounce, he’s still springy for his age and hopefully can bring us some quickness in the backcourt.”
Scott Roth
- Nickname: Coach
- Position: Head coach
- Height: 203cm
- Weight: Unknown
- Age: 58
- Home town: Cleveland, Ohio
Roth beat out over 100 candidates earlier this year to land the coveted role of the Jack Jumpers inaugural head coach.
Roth comes to the JackJumpers after being a lead assistant at the Perth Wildcats following more than two decades in the NBA system in a variety of assistant coaching and scouting roles for the likes of Golden State, Dallas Mavericks, Toronto Raptors, Detroit Pistons and Minnesota Timberwolves.
Roth has also coached G-League teams Bakersfield Jam (2008) and the Iowa Wolves (2017-19) as well as stints with the Turkish, Dominican Republic and Canadian National teams.
Roth is very much a defensive minded coach that implores his troops to play an aggressive in your face style of defence at all opportunities.
Before his successful coaching career, Roth was drafted in the fourth round of the 1985 NBA draft by the San Antonio Spurs and went on to play 160 games across the Utah Jazz, San Antonio Spurs, and Minnesota Timberwolves before finishing his career in Europe.
Fun fact: Roth has a new home in Florida planned for his retirement that he has yet to even see in person due to Covid-19 and his NBL duties.
JackJumpers schedule (*subject to change due to Covid)
- Dec 3 Brisbane Bullets @ MyState Bank Arena 7.30pm
- Dec 9 Adelaide 36ers @ MyState Bank Arena 7.30pm
- Dec 11 Cairns Taipans @ Cairns Convention Centre 8pm
- Dec 19 Perth Wildcats @ RAC Arena 5.30pm
- Dec 22 Sydney Kings @ Qudos Bank Arena 7.30pm
- Dec 26 New Zealand Breakers @ MyState Bank Arena 1pm
- Jan 1 Melbourne United @ MyState Bank Arena 5.30pm
- Jan 8 Sydney Kings @ MyState Bank Arena 5.30pm
- Jan 10 South East Melbourne Phoenix @ State Basketball Centre 7.30pm
- Jan 14 Sydney Kings @ MyState Bank Arena 7.30pm
- Jan 22 Adelaide 36ers @ Adelaide Entertainment Centre 5.30pm
- Jan 28 New Zealand Breakers @MyState Bank Arena 7.30pm
- Feb 4 Illawarra Hawks @ MyState Bank Arena 7.30pm
- Feb 12 New Zealand Breakers TBC 5.30pm
- Feb 19 South East Melbourne @ John Cain Arena 5.30pm
- Feb 24 Perth Wildcats @ RAC Arena 9.30pm
- Feb 27 Sydney Kings @ MyState Bank Arena 5.30pm
- Mar 5 Perth Wildcats @ Launceston Silverdome 5.30pm
- Mar 13 Cairns Taipans @ MyState Bank Arena 5.30pm
- Mar 17 Illawarra Hawks WIN Entertainment Centre 7.30pm
- Mar 19 Adelaide 36ers @ Launceston Silverdome 8pm
- Mar 27 New Zealand Breakers TBC 3pm
- April 4 South East Melbourne Phoenix @ MyState Bank Arena 7.30pm
- April 9 Brisbane Bullets @ Nissan Arena 8pm
- April 11 Cairns Taipans @ Cairns Convention Centre 7.30pm
- April 18 Melbourne United @ John Cain Arena 7.30pm
- April 22 Illawarra Hawks @ MyState Bank Arena 7.30pm
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