TRE Nichols might be doing his job as the leading scorer for the Collie Crane Hire South West Slammers so far in the men's SBL season but playing-coach Ty Harrelson feels the addition of Brian Voelkel is just as crucial a factor in his team's strong start to 2015.

The Slammers sit on top of the men's SBL standings with a 9-1 record after six rounds starting the season with seven straight victories before a 16-point home loss to the Joondalup Wolves back on April 11.

However, South West bounced back last weekend with back-to-back wins over the Rockingham Flames and Perry Lakes Hawks to remain on top of the table heading into an intriguing clash this Sunday evening with the Cockburn Cougars at Eaton Recreation Centre.

The Slammers had a solid season in 2014 making the playoffs and only losing to the minor premiers Geraldton Buccaneers in a competitive quarter-final series, but having Harrelson and Clive Weeden become naturalised Australians has helped them put together a stronger line-up in 2015.

With Harrelson and Weeden able to play as locals, the Slammers were able to sign two more imports and both Tre Nichols and Brian Voelkel have made a significant impact in the team's outstanding start to the season.

Nichols has arrived as a high-scoring playmaker and that's what he has delivered over the first 10 games of the season averaging 27.3 points.

However, with Voelkel, Harrelson recruited him for his ability to contribute in every area of the game and that's what he was doing.

Voelkel had a terrific college career at the University of Vermont and has recorded two triple-doubles in his 10-match SBL career averaging 12.2 points, 18.6 rebounds and 7.6 assists a game.

Those sorts of performances and consistency are exactly why Harrelson was so keen to recruit him.

"He's (Voelkel) been fantastic, he's really playing well. I was looking for a player that plays like him and I just did a bit of homework and found out that he was Defensive Player of the Year in his conference and he was averaging a double-double almost with rebounds and assists," Harrelson told SBL Slam of 98five Sonshine FM.

"I just went after him and when I made first contact with him and his agent he was looking at some teams in Europe and I had actually moved on, but they came back to me and said he was ready to sign. It took a little bit of luck but he fits perfectly into our system and he's doing a great job."

And while he might not be playing the minutes of Harrelson, Nichols, Voelkel, Weeden or Trent Worthington, another exciting part of the Slammers' season so far has been the form shown by 25-year-old Jordan Hickert after he missed all of 2014 with an ankle injury.

The son of former NBL star Dan is playing well averaging 6.8 points and 4.2 rebounds a game and Harrelson is delighted to have him out on court with the Slammers after he was hoping to have him out there last year before his ankle required surgery.

"Jordan has been fantastic and he has a high basketball IQ. He played four years of Division 1 basketball and of course his dad is a former Wildcat and so forth. We were a little bit unlucky last year when he had a great pre-season before hurting his ankle," he said.

"We thought we would get him back after a few games but the injury carried on until a point that they went inside to have a look, and he needed surgery on it so we lost him for the whole season.

"He has come on now this season and is shooting the ball really well, and it's great to have somebody with that size who can stretch the floor."

As for last Saturday night's comfortable win over the Perry Lakes Hawks, Harrelson ended up attempting 20 three-pointers but he nailed nine of them on his way to 36 points in the eventual 20-point victory.

However, he credits his teammates for helping him get open to take those shots and he also is glad with the work he's put in over the off-season that allowed him to make such a respectable percentage of those 20 attempts from downtown.

"We were missing a couple of guys so I thought I would take their shots in that game. I feel a little bit lucky to have the team this year that allows me to get the open shots," Harrelson said.

"It's something that I worked on all of the off-season because I didn’t feel like I shot at as high a percentage the last two years as I'd like. My dad is here in Australia helping as an assistant coach and we've been doing some extra shooting work, and I think it's paying off."

Article by Chris Pike
Photo by Ashley Pearce