The Rockhampton Rockets have signed Kendall Stephens and Hayden Richardson for the 2022 Coles Express NBL1 North season.
After a short stint at the back end of 2021 with the Rockets, the Rockets were extremely keen on enticing Kendall back to Rockhampton for the 2022 season.
Stephens has spent some time back in the US and has been getting his body right in preparation for the season and will look to arrive in Rockhampton in March to prepare for their season opener against the Sunshine Coast on April 29.
Coach Neal Tweedy said: "I am extremely happy that Kendall will be returning to the Rockets this season.
"He is one of the purest shooters that I have seen and has the ability to space the floor on offence and will definitely be a focal point of our offence in 2022.
"He showed in his short stint with the team late last season that he is a crowd favourite and more than that he is a great teammate that only wants the club and the players around him to be successful."
Stephens was also excited to be signing with the club again and said: "I’m really looking forward to getting back to Rockhampton for the upcoming season.
"COVID-19 cut us short at the end of last season, which was frustrating, but it also gave me the opportunity to head back to the States and iron out some little niggling injuries I had.
"I’m looking forward to being fully fit from the first game and can’t wait to link up with my teammates in Rockhampton to give ourselves the best chance of pushing for a playoff spot in 2022.
"The crowd atmosphere that I experienced last year is second to none and I can’t wait to get back on the home floor at Bravus Arena.
"See you all soon Rockhampton."
After what was an extremely difficult year for the Rockets last year, Richardson is looking forward to helping get the Rockets back to the top of the NBL1 North ladder.
Richardson said: "I am really excited about what the 2022 season may hold for the Rockets and I am looking forward to continuing to work on my game in 2022.
"We are going to have a really nice group for the season and I really would like to continue to improve my game and help the team in any way I can to get wins on the board and to push for a playoff spot.
"Last year was tough but it also gave me an opportunity to improve areas of my game that I needed to so I can compete at the NBL1 level."
Coach Neal Tweedy said of Richardson: "We are invested with Hayden and want to see him take his game to another level again in 2022.
"He was able to play extended minutes in last year’s season and I really think that gave him a chance to challenge himself.
"Hayden is a great shooter of the basketball and we will be looking for him to give us that spark during games in 2022.
"He is an integral part of our Rockets and a great teammate to have around the group."
