Basketball: Import JaShaun Smith to bring more than hops to Newcastle Falcons

The man has hops.

Boasting a vertical leap measuring 49.5 inches (126cm), the 24-year-old is a YouTube sensation. He drained a helicopter dunk from the free-throw line that has more than 79,000 hits.

Though excited by the X-factor that Smith will bring, Newcastle Falcons coach Peter Astley said the other elements - shot blocking, passing, defensive efforts - to their new import's game were just as important.

Smith, a 195cm graduate of Longwood University, arrived in Newcastle on Friday and will make his NBL 1 East debut against the Canberra Gunners at Broadmeadow on Sunday.

"He is a division one college player, is extremely athletic and will add a lot to the group," Astley said. "He has an outside shot but he is more a slasher and get-to-the-rim type player.

"He can jump and will be a highlights reel. Defences will be worried about him. That helps the rest of the group. He didn't put up huge numbers in college but he was consistent and plays both ends of the court.

"I picked him up from the airport and all he did was ask about his teammates. - the type of players hey are, the type of people they are. It wasn't about him, it was about his teammates."

Smith can play from the two position to the four, was a starter in three of his four years at Longwood and averaged 10 points a game at 49 per cent from the field. His senior year in 2020 coincided with the first major outbreak of COVID and he spent last season in Albania at Tirana.

"It was intriguing," Smith said of his time in the Balkans. "The league was decent, pretty physical. It was a different lifestyle, so much different from the US and Australia. It was an experience. Here I can read things, I'm not scared of getting lost and I can have a conversation with someone.

"Basketball-wise, in the NBL and NBL 1 there are a lot of good players. I just want to work my way up to potentially play in the NBL or go back to the States and play in the G-League."

The youngest of nine siblings, including four boys, Smith is from Raleigh in North Carolina and has been brought up on basketball.

"We lived in a cul-de-sac and had a hoop out the front of our place," he said.

As well as develop his own game, Smith makes no secret of his desire for the Falcons.

"I want to be part of a winning organisation," he said. "Be a team player, gel with the guys and find my role. I want to find my game and win. That's what it is about."

After opening the season with two losses, the Falcons overpowered Hill Hornets 82-50 on the road last round.

"JaShaun will probably come off the bench on Sunday, especially the way we played against Hills," Astley said "Those five guys who started earned that and he has to take it away from one of them. But we didn't bring him out here to play on the bench. I see him being a big factor in the group."

*****

JaShaun SMITH

PLAYED IN ALBANIA

It was intriguing. I met some good friend. The league was pretty decent but it was a different lifestyle, so much different from the US and Australia. I was in the capital Tirana. It was pretty urban. Good fod, nice people. It was an experience.

AUST B'BALL reputation growing

It was more comfortable for me where Emglish is the main language. I can read things, I'm not scared of getting lost and can have a conversation with someone.

Especially basketball - in the NBL and NBL 1, they have a lot of good players out here. A few players from the NBL are in the NBA. I just want to work my way up to potentially play in the NBL or go back to the Stataes and play in the G-League.

I'm here for that.

LONG AND ATHLETIC - what hope to bring to team

I just want to be part of a winning orgaisation. Be a team player, gel with the guys and find my role.

I want to find my game and win.

VERSATILE

I like playing on the wing. As long as I'm on the court - I dont care if it is anywhere from 2 through to 4, that is cool with me.

It is a blessing to be able to come out to a different country and play basketball.

They are really proud of me.

NORTH CAROLINA

They call it the hoop state.

B'BALL is life

Duke, NC State, Wake Forrest ... we are basketball state.

My brothers taught me how to play. I am the youngest of nine. Four boys and five girls.

They are really proud of me.

My brothers taught me how to play.

We played anywhere and everywhere. We had a ring at the front of my house. We lived in a culdesac. Me and my brothers, they bullied me ever day.

AUSSIE PHYSICAL

The Albanian league was pretty physical. They would intentionally foul you and the refs would let it slide.

We were one of the top teams in the conference.

COLLEGE - longwood,

I played Div 1. They went to the tournament this year. I started 3 out four years - freshman, junior and senior year. I never missed a game and ampretty durable. I had a great college expereinec as far as Div 1. Big South conference.

I played against Xavier Cooks, he was at Winthrop and Cal Zunic.

I graduiate in 2020 it ruined my senior year.It ruined everything. It was so hard to get a job if you werent already playing somewhere.

I didn't get COVID year back...

PLAY SUNDAY

Hopefully. I think I'll get onnthe court. I think the coach likes me.

******

PETE ASTLEY

He is div one college player out of longwood. He is extremely athletic and will adda lot to the group.

I don't think he will be a dominant main scorer but I think he fits into the group extremely well.

46 INCH LEAP - x-factor, highlights reel

He can jump and will be a highlights reel. But that is not what we are looking for out of him.

We are looking for him to fit nto our program and also help him inhis development towards professional basketball.

He has an outside shot but he is a very good slasher and get to the rim type player. Yes he can play above the rim.

SOLID TEAM - x-factor, inside presence...cream on top

Adding Tom Dawson on Saturday took so much pressure and focus away from Myles Cherry. jacob Dorricott came off the bench and knocked some threes down and that took a defensive focus away from Matur Malauch. he eneded up with 22points and Mylses only had to play 35 minutes.

Blanace wise for the team, we had four guys in double figures and three other guys with 8 or 9.

I see JaShaun really attracting some of the defence. defences will be worried about him. That helps the rest of the group.

He is a really nive guys.

I picked him up from the airport, he was asking all about his teammates. It wasn't about him, it was about his terammates - the type of players hey are, the type of people they are ... all that kind of stuff.

He has a really good work ethic, wants to get better and improve his basketball.

tHIS A STEPPING STONE

he is 24. He graduated during COVID.

he went to Albania and played professional. It just got too wirds for him.

He is from Raliegh in North Carrolona - basketball heartland

He didn't put up huge numbers in college but he was consistent and plays both ends of the court. He is the type ofn style we are looking for. He makes us really long. Beastie on one side, Beasyie on the other. We can go big with Tom and Myles or we can go mobile and put Beastie in the four spot.

It is pretty exciting for us.

TRAIN TUEDAY & Thursday

We didn't bring him out here to sit on the bench.

He will probably come off the bench Sunday, especially the way we played Saturday night. Thosew five guys who started earnt that and he ahs to take it away from one of them. I see him being a big factor in the group.

Tried to get him cleared for last saturday. He will have a week under his belt and play first game at hme against a really good team in Canberra.