Basketball Tasmania keen on recruiting the state's best basketballers for NBL inaugural season

Building a shortlist for the unnamed Tasmanians from scratch will start within the next three to four months.

The NBL and its league owner Larry Kestelman hold the Tasmanian licence, but will look to seek advice from state development coaches.

"It will be a strong focus once the club is established," Basketball Tasmania chief executive Chris McCoy said.

"It will become the focus of the team rather Basketball Tasmania as such, but we'll work closely with them and have a partnership to assist.

"Our job will be to keep increasing participation and development of everyone in the sport. That'll come out with those at the top of the tree into the NBL branch.

"We'll have a strong partnership and will drive and assist athletes right through."

McCoy said there will be no better time for 10th club to enter the NBL than looking towards 2021-22.

The homegrown NBL talent have carved out a career that can set a platform for the newcomers to strive towards.

"There is still some experienced Tasmanians that are in the league," McCoy said.

"It would be nice to have a real Tasmanian flavour with the team, understanding the majority of recruits will need to come in from elsewhere.

"But we are keen to have some Tasmanian connection there with fans in year one."

Chris Goulding is one that has been ruled out after the one-time West Launceston Primary school pupil decided to extend his contract at Melbourne United on Friday.

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Launceston and Boomers pair Adam Gibson, 33, and Lucas Walker, 35, could end their careers back home.

Gibson, a proud product of Westbury, had already indicated to The Examiner before last year's NBL Blitz "I would not say no" to an offer.

A highly-touted prospect being targeted is 24-year-old Sam McDaniel, who while he has never lived in the state has basketball roots in Tassie.

The son of former Hobart Tassie Devils figure Wayne McDaniel has been spending chunks of time on a very deep Melbourne United bench.

"He has a great connection with his dad playing so many seasons with the Devils, so we're hopeful," McCoy said.

McCoy was also keen to talk up Tasmanian rookies that can make the NBL jump.

Returning Hobart US collegiate star Tanner Krebs, like Goulding, dealt a huge blow to Tasmania's debut season on the back of a two-year deal with the Brisbane Bullets.

"Some point in the future, he'll be a great story, a great connection," McCoy said.

Tre Armstrong is entering his sophomore year at California Baptist, Reyne Smith is at the Centre of Excellence while Taran Armstrong was at the NBA global academy.

But it is Riverside 17-year-old Sejr Deans that could be the future franchise player.

"He'll certainly be a professional player at some level in the future," McCoy said.

"As a great prospect, we're expecting he may just go to a high-level college or may stay with a pathway in the state."

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