FORMER Townsville skipper Mitch Norton has described the decision to play under coach Rob Beveridge as a “no-brainer” after the Hawks unveiled the 23-year-old as the first new recruit to their roster on Thursday.
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Norton was one of the few players in the league already contracted to their existing club for the 2016-17 season before he unexpectedly became a free agent when the Crocs folded last week.
It left him without a club in the thick of the most chaotic free agency period in the league’s history but he said a good word from Beveridge’s former right-hand man and current NBL coach of the year Shawn Dennis steered him towards the Hawks.
“Obviously I was set to be at the Crocs for another year and when they closed up shop it was a pretty nerve-wracking time,” Norton said.
“Free agency had been open for a few days and I was a little bit worried because normally the Aussie point-guards get snapped up pretty quick .
“I had a few clubs come knocking which was a sigh of relief but after getting a phone call from Bevo it was really a no-brainer. Shawn obviously being really close with Bevo put a word in for me I think so I’m pretty excited.
“The style of game the Hawks play is pretty similar to what we played in Townsville because obviously Bevo and Shawn [Dennis] worked together for many years.
“Everything SD talked about is pretty similar to Bevo’s system and hopefully it will be a pretty easy transition.”
A home-grown Townsville product, Norton admitted the Crocs demise came with more than a tinge of sadness.
“I was going out to Crocs training at about eight years old as a floor sweeper and started training with them when I was 14 so to be signed and be captain and then see it all fall over is a little bit sad,” Norton said.
“But I’d always said if a better opportunity came up around the league I wouldn’t be afraid to take it. It’s a bit sad that this is the reason why but I’m very very happy to have found a new home and to be playing under Bevo.”
Norton is the first new player added to the Hawks roster – with Beveridge having retained AJ Ogilvy, Rhys Martin, Kevin White and Cody Ellis from last season – and shares the belief that the Hawks will be genuine title contenders next season.
“Any team that has AJ [Ogilvy] has a pretty big advantage inside and I think in the group they’ve put together so far there’s some really wise older guys who’ve been around the league and a few young energetic guys which is a mix you really need,” he said.
“That was our trouble with the Crocs last year, we were all pretty young and energetic but we didn’t have those old steady heads. I think we have that good mix there and we definitely have a good shot [at a title].”
Beveridge said the Crocs two-time player’s player and defensive player of the year – who will depart for China in May as part of the All NBL squad – has all the qualities he looks for in a guard.
“I have admired Mitch's toughness and hard-nosed approach for many years now and look forward to having Mitch join us,” Beveridge said.
“Mitch is one of the up and coming stars in the NBL and I look forward to helping him become the best player he can be and believe he will fit in perfectly into our style of game at the Hawks”.