Rockhampton Basketball's partnership with WNBL club the Logan Thunder will see Napier suit-up as a development player in the national league for the upcoming 2009-10 season.
The Thunder, led by general manager and former Boomer Mark Dalton and coach Richard Orlick, rolled into Rockhampton last weekend to train and run a series of development sessions with Rockhampton's junior representative players.
Napier, 18, enjoyed a superb season with the Rockhampton Hog's Breath Cafe Cyclones in this year's QBL after making her debut in 2008. The teenager made the starting point guard position her own, averaging 8.8 points, 4.6 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game.
Rockhampton Basketball operations manager Jamie Boon said yesterday Napier had loads of ability but the young Cyclones star's biggest asset was her work ethic.
“Lara came into the Cyclones program in 2008 and after a very good season this year we spoke to Logan about the possibility of her going down as part of their roster for the 2009-10 WNBL season,” Boon said.
“She'll pick up an enormous amount of experience down there and come back to us a bigger and better player next season.
“She's certainly got one of the best work ethics I've seen in Rockhampton.”
It will be a Cyclone watch in the new WNBL season, which tips off on October 2.
Napier joins Cyclones co-captain for 2009 Bec Haynes and Rockhampton product Biancia Abbott at the Thunder while fellow Cyclones Leah Rush (Townsville) and Abby Bishop (Canberra) will also lead their respective teams in the national competition.
“It's great to see Rockhampton products there and the Hog's Breath Cafe Cyclones have become a launching pad for players like Leah Rush,” Boon said.
“The QBL this season, in terms of the women's competition, has been the strongest it's ever been.”
Boon said Rockhampton Basketball's link with the Thunder had already been a huge success.
“It was an idea we came up with that could provide pathways for our junior elite female players here,” he said.
“It's been a really good idea that's come to fruition.”
Story and photo courtesy of The Rockhampton Morning Bulletin
