The Hawks confirmed the NBL's worst-kept secret this week with the Golden State's 2020 second-round pick returning to Wollongong. He recently represented the Warriors in the NBA Summer League, averaging more than 12 points per game.

Jessup was sent to Australia as a stash-and-dash player last season. In 38 games, he averaged 13.6 points and 3.6 rebounds per game as the Hawks finished third on their way to a finals berth.

Jessup is part of a key nucleus of talent who will return in 2021/22, alongside the likes of Tyler Harvey, Sam Froling and AJ Ogilvy.

"The team had a good, strong first season and, over time, Illawarra has had good seasons. But the history of the club since 1979 has shown they've struggled with coming back with a good team again the next year," Goorjian said.

"The team has done well and then the top players get picked off by the big cities. And we thought an important aspect to what we promised the community in the long term, making us a strong franchise not just for a season, is who we sign back. Not only did we want to strengthen the team, but we also wanted the main pieces back. Sam Froling, signing Tyler to a three-year deal and then getting back Justinian, who was a key factor in us making the playoffs last year.

"We've got our young core back. We've got Justinian and Tyler back, and then adding Duop (Reath), whose an international player, gives us some credibility within the community. So that's one part of it, and two, he's a very good basketballer. Last season, we struggled from the three-point line. We've tried to add to that, but he was one of the main guys in that last year. So having a wing that can shoot the ball, he has good size, he has a year under his belt with the team and knows the city and knows the competition, there's a lot of pluses there."

Read more: Hawks to host Breakers, Kings in NBL Blitz

The 2021/22 season tips off on December 3, but fans will get to see Jessup up close this month when the NBL Blitz heads to Wollongong.

The Hawks kick off their pre-season campaign with a trip south to face the Phoenix and Melbourne United on November 15 and 20, before returning to the WEC to face the Breakers on November 25. Two days later, they will host rivals the Kings.

"Dealing with the COVID situation the last two years has led to long pre-seasons. We've been training for such a long period of time, and now you can actually see there's a start to the season. We get to play some games which is really important in the development of the team," Goorjian said.

"They're (Sydney) a really good basketball team and the rivalry obviously is stirred up from last year and is strong, and I think that's really important. Playing a serious game like that before the season starts, and assessing everybody again, is great. Right now, these next four games are about looking at line ups, seeing who plays together, and seeing things that we like and don't like.

"We've got a couple of guys who have arrived and also coming back. Justinian comes back, while Xavier (Rathan-Mayes) is new to it. There are a lot of things to be excited about and there's a lot of positives about playing games like a Sydney game, where there is some emotions which is a good thing."

We depend on subscription revenue to support our journalism. If you are able, please subscribe here. If you are already a subscriber, thank you for your support.

https://www.illawarramercury.com.au/subscribe/