Three-point specialist Taylor Mole has become the Tasmania Jewels’ first Tasmanian rostered player, returning home a decade after leaving the state.
The 27-year-old left Tasmania at 16 to pursue the sport at the highest level and has since played college basketball in the United States and competed in the WNBL with Adelaide and Geelong.
“I was 16 years old and in Grade 11 at St Mary’s when I moved,” Mole said.
“I knew it was my only choice if I wanted to play basketball at the highest level.”
“Now, to be able to move back home, to play for a Tasmanian WNBL team, it means everything to me. It’s everything I dreamed of as a kid.”
Mole is an Australian Institute of Sport Centre of Excellence alumna and said she has never been part of a team with the depth the Jewels are building.
“We’ll be competitive from the jump,” she said.
“Steph [Reid] is one of the best point guards going around anywhere, then you add in Darcee [Garbin] and Keely [Froling] and it doesn’t get much better than that.”
Reid, Garbin and Froling have all committed to the Jewels as rostered players.
She said being the first Tasmanian rostered player to commit to the Jewels was a huge honour.
“I was that little kid who looked up to our local players and dreamed of being like them one day,” she said.
“Now, I have the privilege of being part of an elite women’s team that can be that to little girls and boys now and see their faces light up.”
Jewels coach Claudia Brassard said Mole strengthens the lineup.
“Taylor is one of the best talents to come out of Tassie,” Brassard said.
“She’s long, athletic and can shoot the ball at a really good rate, she’s a knockdown three-point shooter.”
Mole visited students at her former school today as part of a community event with foundation principal partner St Lukes.
St Lukes head of community engagement Nikki Long said having more than 200 students experience the energy of a live game day showed young Tasmanians what is possible on and off the court.
Mole’s signing is subject to WNBL review and approval. Membership will open in July, with the season starting in October.
The Jewels will split home games between MyState Bank Arena in Hobart and the Silverdome in Launceston.
