There is a real team first ethos, to the extent that the US native remarked that it feels more like a family than a basketball team.

It's not something that he is really accustomed to, and what has most surprised him.

"There's not really a lot of egos," he said.

"In the states it's hard to find environments where everybody gets along and everybody loves playing for each other."

Hawkins observed the versatility of the playing group as another big difference.

"You've got a lot of players on the team that can do more than one thing, basically they're interchangeable," he said.

That's not necessarily always the case in the states, where often players are "good at one thing but not so good at the other things".

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Hailing from Columbia in South Carolina, Hawkins started playing at age three and has loved the game ever since.

"I love everything about it, on the court and off the court," he said.

After following the well-trodden pathway and plying his trade for four years in the college system, Hawkins spent time in Spain before returning to the US and linking up with a semi-pro team in Seattle.

It was that connection that brought him out to Australia.

"The coach I was playing for in Seattle he knew [Thunderbolts] coach John (Ireland)," he said.

"I guess I was a nice fit for the program."

Hawkins is loving his time out here.

"I love Tamworth," he said.

"It's a good environment, beautiful people."

"I really like everything about it."

Passionate about coaching almost as much as playing, when not suiting up for the Thunderbolts, the 26-year old has been helping deliver the Sporting Schools basketball program in local schools. He also conducts one-on-one coaching sessions.

"I really love working with the kids," he said.

The shooting guard has been consistently among the Thunderbolts' top-scorers, and is averaging around 20 points a game, but it is his ability to set up opportunities for his team-mates that has impressed Ireland.

Hawkins admitted it is probably one of the strongest attributes of his game, adding that he has always tried to help his team-mates in a better position to score.

The Thunderbolts sit three from four, and are coming together well, he said.

"We've got a lot of young guys and got great leadership," he said.

"As the season progresses we'll be a very dangerous team," he said.

They face their biggest test so far on Saturday night, taking on the unbeaten Newcastle Hunters in Newcastle.