Hawks add final import piece

The Illawarra Hawks have landed their new import guard, signing JaQuori McLaughlin on a one-year deal.

The 27-year-old impressed at the CODE Sports NBL Blitz, particularly in the Hawks’ second game where he delivered 24 points, 4 rebounds, 5 assists and 3 steals.

McLaughlin played under head coach Justin Tatum at Pelita Jaya in Indonesia during the NBL’s off-season, giving the pair a strong connection heading into the Hungry Jack's NBL26 Season.

“JaQuori’s the kind of player every coach hopes to find but rarely does,” Tatum said.

“He’s got that quiet fire. You don’t always see it in his face, but you feel it in the way he controls the game. He’s smart, poised, and never rattled. When the moment gets big, he gets bigger. That comeback win against Perth? That wasn’t luck. That was JaQuori reading the floor like a chessboard and making the right move every time.”

Following Illawarra’s win over the Wildcats on Friday night, former MVP Derek Rucker was full of praise for the American guard.

“Do you go with him now? Do you go ahead and lock him up? I think so,” Rucker said via NBL Now.

“I’d be stitching him up … if I’m the Hawks, I’m getting it done.

“With lead guards and the role he could potentially play with this Illawarra Hawks team, he’s got to be able to sense the moment and understand what he’s coming into.

“I think he’s intelligent enough as a basketball player and I think he demonstrated that tonight, that he can pick his moment to impact basketball games.

“I like the way he did it. He was able to create opportunities for himself off the bounce. He was able to get to the bucket. He drew fouls. He was able to create opportunities for his teammates.

“He’s good enough to play in this competition on a very good basketball team.”

Earlier this week, Tatum earmarked Will Hickey as the Hawks’ starting point guard for NBL26, with the pair set to form a dynamic and high-energy backcourt for the reigning champions.

"Davo is my starting point guard," Tatum told ESPN.

"He earned it, deserved it... it's his spot, as of now, to lead our team.”