False start won't hamper COVID-hit Hawks: Jessup

He had a stellar rookie season in the bank and, while COVID was not yet in the past, it was at least in the rear-vision mirror.

It's now back in the drivers' seat, wreaking havoc on the NBL schedule and ripping through Hawks camp last week.

It's left the entire roster and staff in isolation and Jessup feeling a sense of deja vu.

"I know for me, doing the quarantine thing coming over from the States last year and again this year, that's exactly what this feels like for me," Jessup said.

"It's my third time doing proper [isolation]. You're obviously by yourself in your room with very limited resources and you have to make sure you're in as good a situation as possible to come out and start playing right away.

"We've obviously had some days off with Christmas and everyone being sick but the last few days we've being getting our Zoom workout on.

"Everyone's committed to that and not coming out of this out of shape and making sure that, once we get out if isolation, we're going to be good."

It's an all-too-familiar experience for the 23-year-old, but the familiarity isn't all bad, with the Golden State Warriors Draftee feeling right at home in his second year with the franchise.

"Coming back over here there's just a lot more familiarity with Wollongong as a city, the staff and most of my teammates," he said.

"We have a similar core group of guys coming back from last year so it definitely feels a lot more familiar and comfortable and that just gives me confidence.

"The grind of a first season overseas wears on you. I know it did for me, especially towards the end. I think just learning those things and bringing it into year two has already helped a lot.

"I still know there's a lot of room to grow and I'm looking forward to that."

The Boise State alum averaged a healthy 13 points and three rebounds in his maiden NBL campaign and has been strong out of the blocks this season, averaging 15 points across the Hawks opening four games.

Read more: Captain's Call, Hawks can grow from COVID drama

Now in the second year of his Next Stars deal, he's keen to shrug off the three-point-specialist tag.

"Being able to get downhill and get more paint touches is a step [I want to take] on the offensive end," he said.

"That's going to lead to opportunities for me to score and also just being able to kick it out to others. We've got a better team this year, more talented guys and more shooters.

"There's definitely less [of a feeling] I've got to score. We've got guys who can go and get their own on any given night.

"It makes it a lot easier for each individual not feeling like you need to go and force things. It makes us harder to guard and harder to beat."

Jessup spent the NBA Summer League with the Warriors and remains on their books, but he insists those ambitions won't weight him down.

"I just try and focus on the process, not so much the future and what's going to happen with that whole situation, however long that may be," he said.

"I'm just trying to focus on the here and now with the Hawks and on myself as a player, focusing on the process and being mentally present every day."

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