Roth's new star ready to 'defend the island'

Thursday, August 3, 2023

New Tasmania development player Jacob Richards "exemplifies" the JackJumpers' mentality according to head coach Scott Roth.

Photo: Ian Knight Photography

If you’ve ever heard Tasmania head coach Scott Roth speak, odds are you’ve heard him utter the phrase ‘defend the island’.

It’s the JackJumpers calling card and rallying cry. It’s the mentality behind representing the country’s only state that isn’t a part of the mainland. Tasmania entered the NBL with a chip on its shoulder, and have kept hold of it in a quest to play in the style that perfectly represents the Tasmanian people.

NBL stalwart Chris Goulding, rising star Tanner Krebs and incoming rookie Taran Armstrong were all born on the Apple Isle, but have yet to represent their home state club. Now though, Tasmania fans have one of their own to rally around in NBL24, after the club announced the signing of Jacob Richards.

Roth is a man who practices what he preaches, and his love affair with his adopted club and state will continue in NBL24, so for the JackJumpers to sign a young man who, in Roth’s words, ‘exemplifies everything this place is about’, is a powerful backing.

Richards had been an unofficial member of the JackJumpers' program since its inclusion in the competition. He’s been a train-on player alongside the likes of Lloyd McVeigh, and has run basketball camps under the club’s banner.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">We're not crying, you're crying ?<br><br>Here's some wholesome content for your Tuesday.<br><br>Congratulations Richo, thoroughly deserved ? <a href="https://t.co/l6C7NZeryc">pic.twitter.com/l6C7NZeryc</a></p>— Tasmania JackJumpers ? (@JackJumpers) <a href="https://twitter.com/JackJumpers/status/1686164538142703619?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 31, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

The mutual respect and admiration between Richards and Roth is obvious, all you have to do is watch the video in which the coach waxes lyrical about his new player, and obviously gets emotional in seeing how far the youngster has come since he first walked through the doors of the organisation - two years ago.

It’s an admiration that certainly goes both ways.

“Scott really changed the trajectory of my career,” Richards told NBL Media.

“I would say I was losing interest in basketball, and then I came here and my love for the game came back.

“That really changed everything for me.

“I’ve been with the team for two years. When I first came in, I knew I wanted to be a part of it.

“I knew I wanted to be a JackJumper, and that increased with going to games and experiencing the atmosphere.”

Having been raised in Tasmania, Richards has had a boots on the ground, first-hand look at how the introduction of the JackJumpers into the NBL has impacted the interest in basketball across the state.

The 22-year-old has also continued to play in his home state and averaged over 13 points per game as a member of the Hobart Chargers in NBL1 South.

“Everywhere you go you find someone wearing JackJumpers gear,” he said.

“I’ve been running clinics and all the kids there are so much more excited and engaged with the sport than when I was a young one.”

The work starts now for Richards though, who will have to fight tooth and nail for court time with the same players he’s been striving to improve for the past two years.

“I’m really a team-first player,” he said. “I’ve started to become much more of a shooter in this past year or so.

“I work hard to do what I can for the team, and I love winning.”

Tasmania will open its NBL24 season on Friday, September 29 against the Perth Wildcats.

Prior to their season opener the JackJumpers will take part in the annual pre-season Blitz. For more information on the Blitz, click here.