MCDANIEL KEEPS IT IN THE FAMILY

JackJumpers guard Sam McDaniel is feeling right at home in Tasmania as he begins his preparation for the 2021/22 Hungry Jack’s NBL season.

McDaniel was born in Hobart while his father, Wayne starred for the Hobart Devils in the early nineties. He’s excited about strengthening his connection to his birth state and making an impact with the League’s newest franchise.

“I was very young, I’ve seen a few tapes of some of the stuff he was able to do. It’s a cool story to come back and play in the place he played” McDaniel said.

“Everything is a first for this club, different franchise to what the Devils were back in the day so it’s exciting being something that is brand new, being able to build from the ground up”.

The defensive guard joins the JackJumpers on a three-year deal. 

“We’ve got a great group of guys, good imports, great locals, and so that’s always the goal to be competitive and push for finals and push for championships”.

“Winning championships is always the end goal. From a personal perspective, I just want to keep improving. I feel like in my three years in the NBL, I’ve taken steps every year to improve on and off the court, and that’s something I want to continue here. Whether it’s leadership or on the court stuff, offensively I want to grow my game. There’s plenty of stuff I want to do”.

McDaniel knows what it takes to claim the NBL’s ultimate prize, after winning the 2020/21 NBL Championship with Melbourne United.

“Definitely a tough decision, I won’t lie, I’ve got a lot of love for Melbourne [United]. Not a bad thing to say about the guys in Melbourne, we won a championship and that’s something that will be there forever. But this is a great opportunity to further my career on and off the court in Tassie”.

The 25 year old has just completed two weeks quarantine at his new home outside Hobart, with partner LaShai and son Malahki, in time to celebrate his first father’s Day this Sunday.

“It was challenging having a five month old baby, not being able to get out of the house but it went fast. We have boxes to unpack and plenty to do so it went quick”.

“It’s been a journey, an amazing one”. “I definitely call myself my biggest critic when it comes to on court performance, and so when it is a hard day at the office, you lose a game or have a bad shooting night it’s a big relief to come home and see the little one smiling” McDaniel said.