Why everyone is talking about Tasmania's NBL27 roster

03 Jul 2026

Tasmania's impressive off-season has NBL experts backing the JackJumpers to contend again in NBL27.

By

NBL.com.au

The Tasmania JackJumpers have been one of the most active teams this off-season and, with a host of key additions and re-signings, there are plenty of reasons to be excited ahead of the Hungry Jack's NBL27 campaign.

“The JackJumpers are the winners of the off-season,” Jack Heverin said on NBL Marketplace, presented by Paywise.

What began with uncertainty surrounding the future of star big man Will Magnay has turned into a major roster boost, with Tasmania positioning itself to return to championship contention.

“There’s been very strategic reasons to how all of this has happened,” Hooley added.

“Scott Roth and co have done a very good job of building this roster.

“That starts with Taran Armstrong, then bringing Will Magnay back and I Love the David Johnson re-signing, I think that’s great.”

>> NBL27 Roster Tracker: Every signing, extension and departure

The 24-year-old Armstrong returns to the NBL after stints with the Golden State Warriors and Dubai Basketball in the EuroLeague.

This time, however, he'll suit up for his home state's team for the first time, a signing that means more to Tasmania than many might realise.

“Then there’s Dakota Mathias signing, which is a very strong one, because I don’t think we saw the best of him last year,” Hooley said.

“This guy is a pure shooter who is going to bet on himself to come back and have a big year. You cannot leave this guy when he is on the floor … he is just that renowned as a shooter.

“Alongside Taran Armstrong, to have two shooters like that and throw Majok Deng in there too. There are lots of reasons to be excited as a Tassie fan.”

As Roth's roster nears completion, there are still a couple of spots to fill, including the club's final import.

“Dakota Mathias is a relatively cheap import relative to some of his peers,” ESPN’s Olgun Uluc said.

“Which means that there is theoretically a chunk of money that has remained open. Is that a Bryce Hamilton size chunk of money? That is what we are all looking at.”