Robyn Edie/Stuff
Brayden Inger, pictured in 2021, will return to the Southland Sharks for his fourth NBL season in orange.
The Southland Sharks roster is slowly taking shape for this year’s New Zealand National Basketball League competition.
One of Southland’s favourite sporting teams, the Sharks currently have five names on the books for the 2024 NBL campaign.
Brayden Inger was the first to sign on for what will be his fourth campaign with the Sharks. He has played close to 50 games for the franchise.
Inger, who appeared in the Australian NBL with the Cairns Taipans a few years ago, has been a key figure in the Sharks setup over the past few seasons and will be looking to make his presence felt on the court this year.
Next to sign on the dotted line was Ben Hall, who is back for his second season with the Sharks. He made his debut last season.
The shooting guard/small forward is a handy addition to coach Guy Molloy’s squad and will be looking to increase his workload.
Southland-born Scott Telfer has signed with the Sharks for the 2024 season, having donned the Taranaki Mountain Airs colours for the past three campaigns.
It will be his first season in the orange of the Sharks, and he could spend time in the newly created Rapid League.
Telfer turned out for the Auckland-based Super City Rangers in 2019.
Robyn Edie/Stuff
Connor Coll, centre, has been a mainstay with the Sharks since his debut in 2017.
The Sharks have also named firepower American import Marcale Lotts for the upcoming season.
At 2 metres tall, Lott, the first of the team’s overseas players, will add height to the squad along with experience, having played in Spain, Georgia and the United States previously.
Sharks and Southland favourite Connor Coll is back in the playing group for this season, after he was forced into a sideline role last year because of ankle surgery.
Coll has been a mainstay with the Sharks since his debut in 2017. He has 24 appearances in the Sharks uniform and will be looking to cement a starting spot this season now that he has fully recovered from his injury.
Coach Molloy has also signed on for another two seasons, keeping him at the helm until the end of the 2025 NBL campaign.
The Sharks start their 2024 with a clash against neighbours and rivals the Otago Nuggets at the Edgar Centre in Dunedin on March 30, before hosting the Manawatū Jets at ILT Stadium Southland in Invercargill on April 3.
There will be 16 rounds before the finals, with the Sharks playing 10 games in Invercargill as well as some tricky double-headers away from home.
Round four involves a trip to Tauranga, where they will face newcomers the Whai.
In a new concept, there will also be a three-day draft starting on Sunday, May 12, and finishing on May 15, fitted between rounds seven and eight. This will allow teams to trade players, but the trade will only go ahead if the players are open to it.
