After touching down in Tamworth just over a week ago, Mississippi native Rashanti Harris will make his Thunderbolts debut against the Hawkesbury Jets on Saturday.

Tamworth coach John Ireland said the basketballer will make his “presence” felt on the court.

“He’s going to be a dominant body within our league. He stands at a very imposing six foot nine,” Ireland said of Harris.

“But he also brings with him quite a good basketball IQ.

“He’ll play inside but has the ability to play outside as well. His biggest impact he’ll have is rebounding – both offensively and defensively.”

Harris brings with him a wealth of experience on the basketball court.

The 29-year-old has played in Europe and Asia before he made the move to Tamworth this season.

“He was ranked in the top 20 prospects coming out of high school in the entire country [USA],” Ireland said.

“Unfortunately, he didn’t have the opportunity to go on to the collegiate level but, in saying that, he’s taken a different path.

“He’s played multiple seasons overseas in Malta and Holland and he’s been on exhibition teams in China. He’s a pretty elite level basketballer.”

Something that Ireland has loved about the Tamworth lineup in recent years is the side’s ability to share the workload around.

And Ireland said Harris fits that mould.

“He comes with a very unselfish mindset. If guys are in a better position, he’ll give up the ball,” Ireland said.

“I think he’ll fit into the system and the culture of the side extremely well.

“Hopefully we can give him the opportunity to progress even further within Australia and really kick-start his professional career.”

After a couple weeks off the court, the Thunderbolts will have the chance on Sunday to bounce back from their last-start defeat to St George.

The trip to Hawkesbury will be one of the side’s longest with an unknown entity waiting at the end.

“Hawkesbury are a bit of unknown. We haven't played against them for a couple years,” Ireland said.

And while the Jets have one win next to their name, Ireland wasn’t underestimating the side.

“Their results in the first part of the season haven’t been that impressive but in saying that they pushed a couple good, quality teams like Manly and Coffs Harbour,” he said.

“We won’t be taking them lightly and hopefully we execute our game plan and get back in the winner’s circle.”