The Tornadoes could soon have another Opal on their books should Keely Froling's 2021 go to plan.
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Set to be a major cog in the Tornadoes' 2020 campaign before it was wiped out by coronavirus, the 24-year-old Canberra Capitals star has signed on for another season under Sarah Veale.
COVID-allowing, Froling will join up with her new teammates for the first time next month ahead of the opening round of NBL1 on April 17.
She then hopes to follow in the footsteps of ex-Torns Lauren Mansfield, Lauren Nicholson and Ally Wilson by winning a call-up to the national squad, with a ticket to the Tokyo Olympics firmly in her sights.
"It was a really easy decision to come back [to Launceston]," Froling said.
"I want to go really far with my basketball - I want to make the Olympics and step into the Opals team and I think this is the best place for me to do that.
"I'm hoping to play as many games as possible and I think the [NBL1] season goes to August, so even post-Olympics I'd be able to come back and play.
"We've heard nothing about Olympics or qualification so it's a big question mark, but I'm committed to the Torns 100 per cent and I'll do everything I can to play as many games as possible."
A member of Canberra's 2018 and 2019 WNBL championship sides, the 188cm forward started all 14 games in 2020, averaging 9.4 points and 5.7 rebounds a game.
According to Veale, Froling's leadership will be every bit as valuable at Elphin Sports Centre as her on-court capabilities.
"We started negotiating with Keely as soon as we knew that 2020 was cancelled, so we're really proud she's decided to join us for a whole range of reasons," Veale said.
"For me it's about when she's able to score - she scores some big points at the right time and in terms of defence she'll be a massive headache for the other teams.
Veale is putting the finishing touches on an 14-player squad with a second import to be announced shortly and a third all but locked in.
Tasmanian players will make up the other 11 spots on the roster.
"We're nearly there - we've got one more spot to fill and we're very close to that," Veale said.
"We have been speaking to an overseas player but at this stage the advice we've been given is not to proceed in that area until there's clarity from immigration on whether those visas will be permitted, so we've gone down a different path now."