The stress caused by a mass exodus of Tamworth Thunderbolts players has been relieved somewhat by the club re-signing US import Quayshun Hawkins - with the possibility of a second American playing at the Dome next year.
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Hawkins, the Waratah League's reigning most valuable player, will be back for a second year at Tamworth.
Thunderbolts coach John Ireland said the point guard was a "high-calibre guy on the court and off the court".
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Ireland said: "He's a very high IQ basketballer who makes the guys around him better ... I know he's super excited and really enjoyed Australia and the [Tamworth] community. So really fantastic for Tamworth basketball [to have him back]."
Ireland said the Thunderbolts had tried to secure Hawkins a "higher" opportunity, including in the semi-professional Queensland Basketball League, but it "didn't pan out".
Hawkins, from South Carolina, was an NCAA division two first-team all-star. Tamworth's NBL standout Nick Kay also has that distinction.
The Thunderbolts have lost their 2019 co-captains Chris Skilton and David Bourke, as well as Riley Murphy, Brock McMahon, Abe Dwyer-Westhorpe, Josh Cohen and Cody Beresford.
Ireland agreed that re-signing Hawkins - a Waratah League Allstar 5 last season - was crucial given the loss of so many players and the pending elevation of some "extremely raw" talent.
"But we're also realistic," he said. "Next year is gonna be a tougher year ... a few of the younger guys will have to step into roles, and they'll grow within that system and hopefully we can continue to push for final spots in 2020."
Ireland said the Thunderbolts - beaten by Canberra Gunners Academy in the 2019 grand final - were "looking at a few guys" in the US and should know soon if the side would have two US imports in 2020.
"So yeah, watch this space, I suppose," he said, adding: "We're confident. We still think we've got the cattle in the paddock to be able to compete with the Sydney sides."
