New Keilor Thunder signing Tana Kopa jumped at the chance to make the move to Victoria to take the next step in his basketball career.
The Western Australian native played all his junior basketball in the state before heading to America to go to college at Spring Hill, Long Island University and Canisius University.
He spent last season at his home club Willetton Tigers after returning from college.
Now it’s time for a new adventure in the National Basketball League 1 South competition.
“I’m super excited about it,” Kopa said from Perth. “I think there is more opportunity over there [Victoria], my goal is to play in the NBL.
“It’s closer to everyone else, Perth is so isolated.
“NBL1 South is a better league. I thought it would be better to play over there.”
It was a phone call from coach Ash Arnott that got the ball moving on the move to the Thunder.
He said everything he heard about the Thunder was really positive.
“People I know, my agent and a couple of teammates, a couple of people I work out with, they all have had Ash as a coach and have said really good things about him,” he said.
“After talking with him, I really liked what he was talking about so I thought it was the right move.
“When he messaged me I was super excited. They have Daniel Foster too, who is also a Willo boy from back in the day.”
Kopa said he thought about making the move when he returned from college but the timing wasn’t right.
It gave him the opportunity to play NBL1 with his home club for the first time.
Kopa averaged 15 points per game for the Tigers in NBL1 West.
He shot at 44.14 per cent from 3-point range and 47.55 per cent from the field.
Kopa will make the move to Victoria early next year.
For now, he’s spending time with the Perth WIldcats NBL program.
“I’m working out with the Wildcats as a train on player for now,” he said.
“I’m training with them every day when there’s off days or they are off travelling, doing my own work, meeting up with some of the other players from Willetton.
“It has been unreal working out and seeing how the best in the league do it.
“Seeing the work they put in after training, really influenced me with how they approach things which has been awesome.”
Kopa said the squad they were putting together was exciting and he was keen to help build the culture.
As for what Keilor fans can expect from him?
“Maybe a couple of threes here and there,” he said.
Meanwhile, the NBL1 South fixture has been released.
The Thunder will kick off its season in the men’s and women’s against the Knox Raiders on 28 March.
