New Keilor Thunder import Shayla Cooper is hoping to make a big impact on the National Basketball League 1 South competition.
Cooper, who arrived in the country a couple of weeks out from the season, was set to debut for the Thunder during their first match on the weekend, after deadline.
Speaking in the lead up to the game, Cooper said the decision to come out and play in Australia was an easy one.
“I had heard really great things about Australia,” she said. “A lot of friends have played out here.
“They say it’s a really good league and I wanted to come down and get familiar with it.
“I have a friend who is playing in Cyprus and she kind of put me onto it [Keilor] and I said I would check it out.
“She played here two years ago, so with all of that it was a yes.”
Cooper said discussions between her and the club before signing the deal, made her feel like they were both heading in the same direction.
She said chatting to coach Tom Bandilovski had also had the decision an easy one.
Australia is the latest destination for Cooper in her basketball career, which has seen her play with some of the best players in the world.
“I have played in a lot of different countries professionally,” he said.
“In high school I won three state championships and played with some of the greatest basketball players. Notable Diamond DeShields- who just won a championship with the Chicago Sky- and Dearica Hamby who plays with the Las Vegas Aces.
“I went to college in Georgetown which speaks for itself and then that didn’t work out, I went to Idaho State.
“I played with some great players there too. The likes of Kelsie Mitchell and Linnae Harper.”
Cooper was drafted into the WNBA after college by Connecticut. She would also play with the Chicago Sky.
She said she would bring what she learned in the WNBA and in countries like France, Italy and Spain to Keilor.
“I think my professionalism will be something that I bring” she said. “Being able to help our team and with our team being young, being able to help those girls take the next step in their game.
“It was great to play with some of the greatest players playing against the other greatest players.
“There’s nothing more you can ask them for.”
Cooper is hoping that her stint at Keilor might lead to a change to play in the WNBL later on.
While Bandilovski is already happy with what he has seen from Cooper before she had even hit the court, the 26-year-old has set high expectations for herself.
“I want to be on 100 per cent all the time,” she said.
“I’m like Lebron James on the court. Watch out Keilor.”
Tara Murray
