The Queensland Times | Paul Smeaton | 14th December 2011

POINT guard is arguably the most critical position on any basketball team so it is hardly surprising Ipswich Force coach Shane Heal is so pleased to have signed Shaun Gleeson to fill that role.

The former Gold Coast Blaze player will be the on-court team leader next season as the Force try to bring the state title home to Ipswich.

Gleeson's signing is a coup for the Ipswich club with the 189cm sweet shooting guard coming off his best QBL season in 2011.

Playing for the Northside Wizards, Gleeson averaged 23.5 points per game and finished the season as point guard in the QBL all-league five.

Gleeson's flirtation with the NBL came when he was called up to replace Australian junior guard Jason Cadee on the Blaze roster last season after Cadee was seriously injured in a car accident.

The all-to-brief professional stint only served to motivate Gleeson to get back to the top level so an opportunity to play under Heal was too good to pass up.

"They (Blaze) were pretty guard-heavy and such a talented team," Gleeson said.

"It was a great learning experience but as far as trying to break into the NBL, I found it pretty difficult.

"I definitely want to get back there and that's one of the main things that attracted me to Ipswich.

"I think I can learn a lot playing under Shane and if I do get a second chance, the things I learn here will help me stay there a lot longer."

It would be easy to think Gleeson is motivated by personal ambition but that would be selling him short.

After playing in consecutive losing QBL semi-final teams for the Gold Coast and Northside Wizards, the defensive specialist is desperate to go the extra step with the Force.

Gleeson said he is ready to take on whatever role his coach decides will help the team win.

"My team goal is to go to that next level," he said. "I want to get to the grand final and win it.

"Shane and I have spoken about me running the team, making sure everyone is involved and executing the game plan.

"He's going to put me in a position to score if it will help the team rack up some wins.

"Primarily though, I will be organising the guys."

As far as Heal is concerned, there is no better player to fill his team's crucial playmaker role.

Despite having seen little of Gleeson over the past few years, recent one-on-one training sessions on the Gold Coast showed the four-time Olympian all he needed to see.

"I wanted Shaun because he is an NBL player, he should be playing in the NBL," Heal said.

"He will become the leader of this team and hopefully we can work on things that are going to help him get the opportunity to play in the NBL next year."

Gleeson's signing takes the number of players on the official Force playing roster to five, including guards Ryan Jefferies, Jason Ralph, "D League" prospect Lachlan Swindles and veteran forward Ryan Stolberg.