Taylor-Made: Jewels sign Tasmanian talent

The Jewels announced on Monday that they have locked in their first Tasmanian rostered player, Taylor Mole.

The 27-year-old wing is over the moon to be heading back home after leaving Tasmania a decade ago to pursue her dream of playing professional basketball.

“I was 16 years old and in Grade 11 at St Mary’s when I moved,” Mole said.

“I knew it was my only choice if I wanted to play basketball at the highest level.

“Now, to be able to move back home, to play for a Tasmanian WNBL team, it means everything to me, it’s everything I dreamed of as a kid.”

Sharpshooter Mole has the huge honour of being the first Tasmanian rostered player to commit to the Jewels, leading fellow Tasmanian Development Players Nikki Parker and Andie Smith.

“It gives me goosebumps, I’m so honoured,” she said.

“I was that little kid who looked up to our local players and dreamed of being like them one day.

“I’d hang around after games wanting to get a single high five from a player.

“Now, I have the privilege of being part of an elite women’s team that can be that to little girls and boys now, and see their faces light up, I just can’t wait.”

Mole is an Australian Institute of Sport Centre of Excellence alum, before heading to the United States and attending UC Santa Barbara.

She then returned to Australia to play WNBL with both Adelaide and Geelong.

With this resume, and the squad the Jewels have already recruited, including Steph Reid, Darcee Garbin and Keely Froling, Mole is confident Tasmania will be strong in their historic first season.

“We’ll be competitive from the jump,” Mole said.

“Steph [Reid] is one of the best point guards going around anywhere, then you add in Darcee [Garbin] and Keely [Froling], and it doesn’t get much better than that.

“I’ve never been part of a team with this level of experience and leadership.

“I’m just going to be a sponge and soak up everything.”

Jewels Coach Claudia Brassard said adding Mole to the Jewels strengthens the line-up.

“Taylor is one of the best talents to come out of Tassie,” Brassard said.

“She’s long, athletic, and can shoot the ball at a really good rate, she’s a knockdown three-point shooter.

“On top of that, anyone you talk to about Taylor will tell you she’s the best person, she comes highly recommended and regarded by her teammates, and that tells you a lot.

“She’s going to win games for us, and she clearly has a future ahead of her in leadership too.”

The Jewels’ maiden season will start in October, with the team playing half their games in Hobart at MyState Bank Arena and half in Launceston at the Silverdome.