Basketball: New Zealand Breakers sign Jarrad Weeks

Jarrad Weeks of the Taipans. Photo / Getty

An offseason of change has continued at the New Zealand Breakers, with the club welcoming back an Australian influence onto their roster.

Melbourne-born point guard Jarrad Weeks has crossed the ditch, signing a two-year deal to become the Breakers' first Australian player since 2016.

Under Paul Henare's tenure, the Breakers had tried to keep their core entirely local, with eight Kiwis and three imports being the preferred make-up for the past two seasons.

Only Isaih Tueta - a short-term injury replacement - broke the mold, but with new ownership and a new coach in charge, the Breakers have hand-picked Weeks to join the fray.

Weeks has spent five seasons in the Australian NBL, the last two with the Cairns Taipans, and is expected to back-up Shea Ili at the point for the Breakers.

The Herald understands that, at this stage, the Breakers plan to have Ili start at point guard following his breakout season last campaign, and Weeks should prove to be a handy back-up.

Weeks is a quick guard, able to push the pace and attack the basket. He averaged eight points and two assists per game in Cairns last year, and while his field goal percentage is sub-optimal (37 per cent in his last two seasons), he is a proven shooter from beyond the arc.

Weeks, who will suit up for the Southland Sharks in the New Zealand NBL starting this Thursday, is excited for his new opportunity.

"I got in touch with Dillon Boucher initially and then I spoke with Kevin Braswell and he laid out what the Breakers are about and the style of play for this season. I like the way the Breakers are going to play, it will be a fun, up-tempo style of basketball and I think it's going to be an exciting year."

Braswell is pleased to have locked in Ili and Weeks as a combination in his first season as Breakers coach.

"To have both these guys is unbelievable. I have been watching and admiring Jarrad for years, he has always been exciting. He brings tempo to the floor, he is electrifying, and he will complement Shea in what he does. Equally, both are growing and maturing as players and will bounce things off each other and push each other, and that is exciting too."

The Breakers are also understood to be close to terms with Tai Wesley for a return to New Zealand, with an announcement expected shortly.

Breakers roster: Shea Ili, Jarrad Weeks, Tom Abercrombie, Finn Delany, Alex Pledger.