Hawks' Rebounding Set For Escalation

Former NBL champion Peter Hooley believes the Illawarra Hawks' free agency moves will bump their 'bottom of the ladder rebounding' up the standings in NBL24.

The Hawks struggled on the boards in NBL23. Along with their finish on the bottom of the ladder, they were also the weakest rebounding team in the competition.

Hooley believes head coach Jacob Jackomas and the Hawks’ staff have gone into free agency this offseason with rebounding as their top priority.

“They were the worst rebounding team in the league last year, that’s the piece they need to look at,” Hooley said on The Marketplace.

“They had Sam Froling who was elite, they had Deng Deng who was great as well.

“What can they get? Mangok Mathiang was another piece they didn’t use last season, so they need some other big-time presence inside,” he said.

Hawks favourite, Sam Froling will be key in partnering with new recruit Mason Peatling who transferred from Melbourne United in working together to rise the Illawarra stocks.

Hawks co-captain and fan-favourite Sam Froling is set to partner with former Melbourne United forward Mason Peatling in the Hawks' frontcourt, while the side has also added promising centre Lachlan Olbrich and Next Star AJ Johnson.

The Hawks have already got their hands on former college basketball player Lachlan Olbrich, a promising young gun, alongside Next Star AJ Johnson.

With the Hawks consistently linked with former Perth veteran Todd Blanchfield since his release from the Wildcats, Hooley believes there is one key building block the side is still missing.

“[They were the] lowest scoring team in the league and I think that’s where Jacob Jackomas has looked at. You get Todd Blanchfield back, WIN Entertainment Centre is prime for shooters. He’s had a lot of success, I think that’s a great signing,” Hooley said.

“I potentially think they’ll look for that import maybe three/four that starts at four.

“Mason Peatling can start at the four if they need it, he did that at Melbourne and he did it really well. But if you put Sam Froling there or an import five, you’ve got plenty of things to work with,” he said.

To watch the latest episode of The Marketplace, head to the NBL YouTube channel and NBL Website.