The Tasmania JackJumpers have signed American guard Bryce Hamilton for the next two seasons, securing one of the club’s biggest drawcards as he recovers from a serious knee injury.
Hamilton, 25, ruptured his ACL in January, ending his debut NBL season. He had surgery in February and has been focused on his recovery since.
The Californian made an immediate impact in Tasmania, averaging 18 points before the injury.
He was named in the All-NBL Second Team despite missing the final nine games of the season.
Coach Scott Roth said re-signing Hamilton had been a priority all off-season.
“Part of our whole strategy this off-season was to figure out how we could get Bryce Hamilton back,” Roth said.
“The fact that we’ve been able to secure him for two years is really a great outcome for us and for him.”
Roth said the club would support Hamilton through his rehab and hoped to have him back on court later this season, followed by a full healthy campaign.
He praised the guard’s temperament, describing him as a quiet, hard-working player who never looked rushed or flustered on court.
Darren Smith, general manager of basketball operations, said Hamilton’s return lifted the club’s title hopes.
“Having Bryce back continues to elevate us into Championship contention,” Smith said.
“He’s the kind of player who can rise to the big moments.”
Roth said the roster was taking shape, with three new signings in Ben Gold, Taron Armstrong and Dakota Mathias adding depth and shooting alongside returning players.
He said injuries had hurt the club over the past two seasons, but he expected the team to be very competitive if it stayed healthy.
The JackJumpers will soon announce an injury replacement player to start the season while Hamilton continues his recovery.
