THE Launceston Tornadoes have completed their import line-up for the upcoming SEABL season with the signing of Townsville Fire WNBL rising star Alex Wilson.
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The 19-year-old, joins Adelaide Lightning duo Nadeen Payne and returning local favourite Lauren Mansfield.
Her signing gives the Tornadoes a strong, young import line to boost their group of talented local girls with the likes of Olivia Howard, Emma Russell, Alicia Riley and some of the state's best young players being named in the team.
Tornadoes coach, Peta Sinclair was excited about Wilson's addition to the team and the prospect of the Torns contending for a finals position.
``Ally is an athletic, versatile player who will add depth to our core group of local players,'' she said.
`` She will also bring her strong defensive capabilities which is an area that we were lacking last season.
``We need to combat the bigger guards in the league, and Ally will definitely help us in that area.''
Wilson is considered one of the brightest young prospects on the WNBL scene.
She was part of the Australian Gems team at the 2013 FIBA under-19 world championships that won bronze medal, the first Gems squad to do so since 1997.
Wilson averaged 13 points, seven rebounds and three assists in Lithuania.
She was awarded the NAIDOC South Australian Sportswoman of the Year award for 2013 and the same year she also represented South Australia at the Australian under-20 national championships, where she claimed the Bob Staunton Medal for tournament MVP.
``We are so pleased to have secured Ally for the 2014 season, her addition tops off a hugely sucessful and strategic recruiting program,'' Tornadoes chairwoman Janie Finlay said.
``Credit goes to our club history of attracting high quality players and to the ever increasing strength of SEABL.
``We anticipated that our opposition teams would be increasingly super competitive and we need to keep up to secure our position in the league. It's a real balancing act.
``Essentially we're about community and we exist to provide this opportunity for our locals, and of course to bring home another championship.
`` We think we've got just the right mix with the addition of Ally, it's pretty exciting.''