The 203cm star forward had spent three years at the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra, followed by three seasons of playing college basketball in the US with the Nebraska Cornhuskers, and then a three-year stint in the NBL, playing with the Adelaide 36ers.

Each of these experiences started well, but then followed a downward spiral – McVeigh admits he enjoyed the first year of each contract, but by the second year he was struggling, and became increasingly unhappy during his third year.

However, McVeigh recognised that a pattern was emerging and he didn’t want history to repeat itself in Tasmania. So the master of reinvention delved deep into his “toolbox” of life skills, and set about making some serious changes, both personally and professionally.

And the results speak for themselves.

The now 26-year-old says he is “living the dream” in Tasmania. The Kingston local is enjoying the beachside, laid-back lifestyle that comes with living in a smaller city, which is reminiscent of his childhood, growing up as one of four children at Cabarita Beach, a small seaside town in northern NSW.

He’s also having great success with the JackJumpers, suiting up as part of the team’s starting five, and is hungry for a championship win after coming so close in the franchise’s inaugural season last year. McVeigh is regularly named as player of the match, he won the NBL’s most valuable player award in the pre-season blitz and he’s set a string of new personal bests during his time with the JackJumpers – including a new career high of 26 points scored in April, during a nailbiting win against Melbourne United as the JackJumpers rocketed towards finals.

This season he’s averaging 15 points per game, a number that continues to rise. And McVeigh recently played a key role in securing the Australian Boomers a spot in next year’s FIBA World Cup.

The charismatic character, who JackJumpers coach Scott Roth refers to as “Happy Jack”, is also a firm fan favourite – glance at the crowd at MyState Bank Arena at any home game and you’ll see hordes of people, of all ages, sporting #9 McVeigh jerseys.

McVeigh recently signed a two-year extension on his initial two-year JackJumpers contract, meaning the sharp shooter will spend at least four years in Tasmania, the longest he’s ever spent in once place since leaving home at 15 to pursue his dream of becoming a professional basketballer.

It’s hard to believe the man who has become widely known as “the smiling assassin”, “the energy guy” and the “happiest guy in the league” was not always the confident, happy-go-lucky Jack McVeigh that JackJumpers fans see today.

“I think I’ve always had a lot of upbeat energy,’’ McVeigh reveals.

“And then I went through a couple of experiences in college of really feeling down, kind of experiencing that side of things.’’

He says being away from home from such a young age, and being so far from home, contributed to his mental health struggles. And being in an industry where players are constantly critiquing their own performance, and are always striving for bigger and better goals without necessarily stopping to reflect on the things they have already achieved, also didn’t help.

McVeigh says it “has taken a lot of work” to get to a happier place, and to break what he calls the “curse of three years” that plagued him before coming to Tasmania.

“I knew if I went to a new place as the same Jack, the same thing would occur,’’ he explains.

So he set about creating change to ensure he had a better experience in Tasmania – from being more accountable for his actions and understanding that he could do things better in some areas, to surrounding himself with great people, putting more effort into relationships and doing more of the things that bring him joy.

McVeigh, who “loves a good self-help book”, spent a lot of time learning from other people, and looking at ways they achieved happiness and success. As a result he’s built what he refers to as his “toolbox” full of useful strategies – including habits like meditation, mindfulness, journalling and cold water immersion – to achieve what he calls “inner smoothness”.

“If someone says they want to get stronger you might ask them if they’ve been doing push-ups or going for a run,’’ McVeigh says.

“If they say they haven’t, you might look at them like they’re a little crazy because they’re not putting in the work.

“It’s the same with mental health. If you’re not putting in daily work you’re probably not going to see change.’’

A lot of fans are surprised to learn that the “energy guy” they see bouncing around the basketball court actually spends the first half hour of every morning in a tranquil state of being, doing breathing exercises and listening to a 10-minute meditation on the Calm app on his phone, followed by some reflective journalling.

McVeigh started daily journalling (and blogging on his website jackmcveigh.com) when he moved to Tasmania and it’s an enjoyable habit he’s continued.

Sometimes he will just fill a page with random thoughts or write about a recent experience he’s had, other days he will write a list of things he is grateful for, or envisage the future in the present tense.

“Anyone who writes will know that ‘wow, this really helps me articulate my thoughts’,’’ McVeigh says.

“I think of it as a form of meditation, to sit and be present, and get things out.’’

He says it has “been cool” opening up about his daily routines and learning from others about their own pursuit of happiness. He’s sharing his story in the hope it will inspire others to follow their dreams and make the most of every day.

“I still have highs and lows,’’ McVeigh admits.

“That’s part of being alive. But the sea is pretty calm.

“I’m someone that kind of believes in the good, and someone that definitely has a glass-half-full look on the world, for sure. I love being alive, I love doing what I do, and that’s something I want to share with people.’’

McVeigh is particularly passionate about working with – and inspiring – kids, and finds huge rewards in running school and community clinics with the JackJumpers.

“I look at my current position in society – I can put a ball in a hole, and I can entertain people,’’ he explains.

“But my first job is to be a positive influence on those kids, and inspire them to achieve what they want to achieve. Basketball is second to that. Some people don’t love to hear that, but it helps me perform ... it helps keep my head on my shoulders.

“I think like anything in life, the more you give, the more you receive. When you’re giving to kids, they’re giving back to you.’’

McVeigh says in a fast-paced world – and especially in the world of professional sport – it’s important for him to stop and appreciate his achievements, both on and off the court.

“You’re constantly chasing something,’’ he says.

“Especially in sport, where every day you rock up try and be better than you were yesterday, you’re constantly living in this state of trying to get better. So it’s good to stop every now and then and think ‘it’s pretty awesome what I get to do’, especially when you’re playing in front of those fans. The support here is just incredible … it’s a sell-out every game, and walking into (MyState Bank Arena) is just incredible.’’

Before his time with the JackJumpers, McVeigh was never a starter. But now that he’s achieved his goal of consistently suiting up for the starting five, he says it would be easy to start looking at what comes next, whether that’s becoming the MVP or progressing to the NBA.

“You have to stop,’’ he explains.

“I’m not super goal-oriented. I definitely have a little goal board. Of course I want to win an NBL championship, I’d love to score a point in the NBA, and go to world championships or the Olympics.

“But more of my focus is on every single day. To be the best teammate, friend, brother, basketball player, as possible.’’

McVeigh says he’s only just getting started in Tasmania, and his best basketball performances are yet to come.

“I feel like as a basketball player I’m only just beginning.” he said after extending his JJs contract.

“I feel I’m only at 20 per cent of what I can be. There’s always so much room to grow.

“In everything from on court to off court, being the best teammate, shooting more consistently, it’s exciting to come to work every day.”

And he says he’s never felt more like himself.

“For me, being a pro, there’s been so much learning and growing,’’ McVeigh explains.

“And I felt like I really turned into a man in Adelaide. I came in as just a young boy and I learnt, and I made mistakes, and did all that and then I got to come here and be who I am, who I wanted to become. I’ve just been surrounded by so many good people. Scott Roth can pick character, and he’s put in place a bunch of guys that I want to call teammates for a long time.’’

JackJumpers chief executive Simon Brookhouse says McVeigh “exemplifies everything we want in players who pull on our jersey – authentic, humble and always hungry to improve himself and those around him’’.

Coach Roth is also thrilled to have McVeigh on his squad for at least another two years after McVeigh inked a deal to remain in Tasmania until at least the 2024/25 season.

“I said last year, Jack’s not going anywhere as long as I’m here,’’ Roth recently said.

“I think he’s just a great culture fit for the entire state and off the floor he’s unbelievable in some of the things he’s been doing.

“He’s still young and growing and I think he’s found a home here with us and feels quite comfortable.

“When you start to have guys for six, seven, eight, nine, 10 years in your program it leaves a heck of a legacy for guys coming in to understand what it means to be a JackJumper and I hope he finishes his career with us.”

And it’s not unreasonable to expect that McVeigh will stick around for that long. He can't say enough good things about Tasmania, a place he already refers to as “home”. And since his contract extension, McVeigh is already making plans to become a first home buyer and purchase a house in Hobart with his partner, Beth, saying he’s “looking for something I can call my own”.

“I’m all in,” he says of life in Tasmania.

“The people have been incredible and this is the place to be.

“I’ve absolutely loved my time in Tasmania, it really does feel like home. I feel like I can be my true self here and play my best basketball.

“It’s just a fun place to come to work every day with the staff and players we have. I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.”

He loves that Tassie immerses him in nature, and he can see “mountains out my window”. He enjoys being close to the beach, where he regularly walks or does cold water therapy with his brother Lloyd and his housemate, teammate and “best mate” Fabijan Krslovic.

He’s visited the snow, and is captivated by Bruny Island, a place he has camped a few times.

McVeigh is impressed that he only has to drive “two minutes to practice”. He likes the fact that there’s no traffic and he doesn’t have to jostle for a park at the supermarket.

“Don’t get me wrong, I’m still that high energy hyperactive when I’m at work … I know that’s something that I can control, that can help the team win, I know I can bring energy every day and give my best to every single position, and pick people up when they’re tired and that’s something I pride myself on,’’ he says.

“But then when it’s downtime for me, it’s downtime, I want to be near a beach, near some trees.’’

McVeigh has always been passionate about sport and says he knew from the age of five that he was going to play basketball professionally. His mum was a basketballer – she represented Australia from juniors through to U20s – and she coached Jack through his primary and teen years until he moved away from home to further his sporting career.

“For me, basketball was always number one in my life,’ McVeigh says.

“I tried everything – I played footy and tennis and I gave school a good crack. But basketball was always, for me, a priority. I knew when I was five years old I was going to be a professional basketball player and I was going to work to make that happen.

“So I’ve been focused on that since I was a young kid and I’m lucky enough to live my dream every day.”

The downside of a professional sporting career is that McVeigh has spent a lot of time away from his family. The pandemic didn’t help. But now that he’s found his feet in Tasmania he’s putting more focus on family time.

His younger brother Lloyd is now living with McVeigh and is training regularly with the JackJumpers.

The 19-year-old tried out as a development player, and although he didn’t get the gig, he was invited to train with the JackJumpers throughout the season to build his skills, while also playing for the Glenorchy Spartans.

McVeigh’s two other siblings – an older brother and a younger sister – visited the state to watch him play in finals last year, and he’s excited to welcome his parents to the state for a visit in the new year.

“I moved out young, when I was 15, and I went to boarding school for a year before I went to the AIS,’’ McVeigh says.

“So I haven’t had a lot of family time. I’m 26 now, so it’s very nice to get some of that in.

“I think everyone gets that itch, to see the people you love and have that ticked off … it keeps you calm.’’

He returned to northern NSW in the last off-season to see his family, playing in the NBL1 with the North Gold Coast Seahawks.

He says he’s unlikely to play NBL1 this year, instead focusing on staying in Tasmania, spending time with his parents as they travel the state – visiting Cradle Mountain is on McVeigh’s travel to-do list – and enjoying simple things like spending weekends at home, hanging out with friends, going to the gym and “all that fun stuff”.

Sometime in the next couple of years he’s hoping to turn his attention to finishing the final units in the psychology degree he started in the US.

He’s also interested in studying physiotherapy and sports psychology, as part of his plan to prepare himself for a life after basketball.

McVeigh wants to see his name on the New York Times bestseller list – he’s already started penning a how-to guide on how to become a professional basketball player and maximising potential.

McVeigh has also recently started the Shooters! podcast with NBL HQ’s Darren Barker.

Add to that his desire to explore more of Tasmania while also winning the NBL championship this year and McVeigh has plenty to keep him busy. And he couldn’t be happier.

“I’ve never worked a day in my life,’’ he explains.

“And I’m hoping that never changes. That’s the plan – playing basketball, writing … fun stuff like that.’’

And he says Tassie is the perfect place to do that.

“I want to be somewhere long term, it’s something we all think about, right?,’’ McVeigh says.

“You want job security, you want to stay, you want to try and build something – that’s where I envision myself.

“I’m just so happy to be able to call Tassie home – this team, this club, I couldn't ask for anything more.

“I’m living the dream here.’’ •