One door closed and another opened for new Keilor Thunder signing Matt Johns.
Johns, who had been playing in Queensland, was set to play basketball overseas late last year.
When that fell through, he started looking for his new opportunity.
Some connections led him to Keilor Thunder in the National Basketball League 1 South.
“I’m very excited,” he said “I’m from Geelong initially and have been in Brisbane for the last three years.
“I signed a contract in Qatar and moved everything down to my parents place and then it fell through.
“[Thunder coach] Ash [Arnott] works with my brother and we had a few different connections.
“I talked to him and a few others and it felt right. I put a lot of trust in Ash.”
Johns said he had considered returning to Brisbane for this season but felt like the Thunder was the best fit for him going forward.
Johns is a 203 centimetre athletic forward, with a strong defensive focus.
He spent two seasons with the NBL club Brisbane Bullets as a development player having also been to college and represented Australia at under-16 and under-17 level.
Johns previously played for Geelong United in the NBL1 South before heading to Queensland.
He said the Thunder system was something that he thought would suit his game.
“There’s a few familiar faces at Keilor and everything that I’ve heard has been really positive,” he said.
“It was an easy decision to sign.
“I think towards the back end of last year they had some close games with the top teams and showed who they are and what they can do.
“We’ve added a few pieces and there’s a real chance to build on that.”
Pre-season is underway for the Thunder with three weeks under their belt.
Johns said there were still a few players to come into the group so it was a little bit disrupted but planning was well underway for practice matches ahead of the season.
While Johns is focused on the pre-season and the Thunder, he has one eye on the 3×3 format.
He will head overseas for a tournament, which will see him miss round one.
Johns has also been named for an Australian training camp in Canberra for that format in a big opportunity to showcase his skills.
“I love it,” he said “It helps with my 5×5 game and I get to travel the world with my mates.
“It’s good team and hopefully we do well.
“I’m really excited. I’ve played against the majority of the guys in the training camp.
“It gets bigger each year. There’s the World Cup and the Commonwealth Games.
“There’s some really good opportunities and hopefully I make the team.”
Thunder kicks off its season against the Knox Raiders on 28 March at home.
