Ballarat Rush has secured a new United States import in readiness for the launch of a new Victoria-managed senior elite women’s basketball league.
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Chanise Jenkins arrives in Ballarat in mid-February.
She has spent the past two seasons playing in Switzerland
The 26-year-old guard graduated from DePaul University in Chicago in 2016 after playing in the United States’s gold medal team at the 2015 World University Games.
Jenkins averaged 14.5 points, 3.4 rebounds, five assists and 1.6 steals a game in her last year of college.
Selkirk Ballarat Rush head coach Eric Hayes welcomed the signing.
“Chanise is a very skilled point guard who will bring a lot to our program.
“She can score, facilitate others to score, defend, has great leadership skills and a super work ethic,” he said.
Rush elite teams chair Lynly Doherty said she arrived at an exciting time for Basketball Ballarat.
“We look forward to seeing her creative play bring success to the program.”
Jenkins joins re-signed Chinese Taipei/US import Joy Burke on the Rush roster, with the season to start on March 30.
Jenkins has already had an opportunity to speak with Hayes.
"His insight and expectations for the season really got me fired up,” she said.
“I am extremely grateful of this opportunity I have with Ballarat Rush and looking forward to meeting the team, coaches, and everyone associated with the organisatio,” Jenkins said.
With homegrown duo Claire Constable and Claire Blower also already signed, Rush is preparing to make other player announcements in coming weeks.
The new senior elite basketball league, which is yet to be formally branded, replaces the South East Australian Basketball League.
Teams (each has men and women): Albury-Wodonga, Ballarat, Bendigo, Basketball Australia Centre of Excellence, Dandenong, Diamond Valley, Eltham, Frankston, Geelong, Hobart Huskies, Kilsyth, Knox, Melbourne Tigers, North West Thunder/Launceston (joint licensees), Nunawading, Ringwood, Sandringham, Waverley