USC Rip City coach Jamie Glover would love to have Maddison Rocci back at the club next year, but they face plenty of competition for her services.
The 22-year-old guard has starred for the state league team for the past two seasons and her game has gone to another level in 2020, via a break-out season with the University of Canberra Capitals in the national league.
Now a part of the Australian squad, she could have representative commitments next year and she is also being pursued by several other clubs.
“It’s a work in progress,” Glover said of his bid to keep her.
“She’s obviously getting a few clubs reaching out to her.”
“We’d love to have her back, but we’ve got to work into the equation.”
Rocci was brilliant for Rip City this year, claiming the most valuable player award in the new Queensland State League, which included 14 south-east Queensland teams.
“Her three-point shooting has really improved this season. It’s something she’s really worked on,” Glover said.
“She’s aggressive and strong and she’s worked on her one step dribble.
“You can see she’s improved her offensive game and she’s a decent defender at the same time.”
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Locals to form team’s ‘backbone’
Glover said he’s in discussions with a number of players for 2021, when the NBL1 North (state comp) is set to return after being cancelled this year due to COVID-19.
A core group of local products is expected to be the “backbone” of the team while a few key players are recruited.
“The imports conversation has been brought up, but I don’t know if teams are going to get imports next year with COVID (restrictions),” Glover said.
“So, it will be interesting to see how it all stacks up,”
His team is is set to return to training in February, before the league starts in May.
Glover anticipates Rip City will be highly competitive.
The University of Sunshine Coast-based outfit was formed in 2016. They were playoffs participants in the Queensland Basketball League (now NBL North) in 2019 and just missed the finals by a slender margin in the QSL year.
“We managed to play a few development players this year, some young ones like Layla Prince. She played a lot more minutes so I’m looking forward to seeing what she comes back with next year,” Glover said.
“But we’re trying to go a bit bigger and stronger for next year.”
“I don’t mind we have junior talent but I’m just trying to get a bit of size around, because we’ve definitely lacked that around the ring so that’s something I’m definitely looking for.”
