Seebohm has Aokuso in his eyes for Flames

Townsville Flames coach Shannon Seebohm’s focus is on building the strongest NBL1 North roster possible and to do so he has his sights set on Australian Opals squad member Zitina Aokuso.

Seebohm coached Aokuso in the 2020 WNBL season with the Townsville Fire, as Aoksuo made a successful return from a serious knee injury.

After playing for the Geelong Supercats in the 2019 NBL1 season, Seebohm is hoping Aokuso stays in Townsville and plays under him in NBL1 North this year – along with other members of his Fire WNBL roster.

“Zitina’s one we’d be interested in trying to keep around here to play for the Flames and continue to recover from her knee injury,” Seebohm said via the Townsville Bulletin.

“She’s someone we’d be keen to continue talking to about that, and any of our young up and coming players.

“I think there’s some really good local talent around, but I think one of the things we need to do is add a little bit more size to the roster.

“We’ll probably recruit a starting five man who can step in and really protect the paint, score in the block and rebound the basketball.

“In the NBL1 North, teams like Logan were in the mix to win it before it got cancelled had a really strong front court, and that’s an area we need to identify too head up our recruiting.”

According to the Townsville Bulletin, Jamie Seebohm, Shannon’s wife, is expected to play for the Flames in 2021 while the club has also been linked to Mia Murray and Micaela Cocks.

Seebohm is hoping to create a strong link between Townsville’s WNBL and NBL1 North women’s teams.

“It’s certainly a goal to, not use it as a feeder club, but there’s mutual benefits to both sides,” he said.

“For the Flames, it’s keeping some top talent here they otherwise wouldn’t get, and for the Fire it’s to keep players here we want to continue to develop and get minutes into in the off season.”

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