There is set to be a JackJumper invasion in the Northern half of the state next week, with Launceston set to play a significant role in the preparations for the state's return to the NBL.
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The North and North-West will next week host the Tasmania JackJumpers' training camp ahead of their inaugural season in the competition, with the playing squad to spend time both on the Coast and in Launceston from Sunday.
"[The camp] is important for combination of reasons,'' Tasmania JackJumpers chief executive Simon Brookhouse said.
"It will be the first time that all 15 of our players will be able to get away together as a group and it will be the start of our pre-season training ahead of the start of the season in mid-November.
"So it is an opportunity to get those guys on the road and do some bonding and get some training and match replication in as well as the strength and conditioning work.
"More importantly for us it is an opportunity to get out into the community in the North-West and the North as during the week we will have numerous activities, so it is a chance to get together, train hard and bond, but use the time wisely to get out into the community."
That aspect, Brookhouse said, was important, with the camp to see the club make its most significant appearance in Launceston and the North of the state in its short life.
The camp will see the JackJumpers spend three days on the North-West Coast from Sunday, before spending a further three days in Launceston.
"This is extremely important for us as we have a lot of supporters on the North-West Coast and it is a basketball heartland and Launceston has a strong basketball heritage as well, so the more we can do in those areas the better it will be,'' he said.
Brookhouse also confirmed there was the potential for practice matches both on the Coast and in Launceston.
"It really is difficult though [due to COVID-19], but we are lucky there are enough open states with Western Australia, South Australia and Queensland still open to Tasmania, which gives as an opportunity to bring a couple of teams in from those states and make sure we can have some really good practice matches,'' he said.
"We will then do the same and go to one of those areas so the team can replicate a road-trip experience.
"We haven't scheduled anything yet as we are still waiting on the NBL fixture.
"The season is still scheduled to start on November 18 and we are working on various options and how we treat the Melbourne and Sydney-based teams. "