The Nunawading Spectres have re-signed co-captain Izzy Chilcott for the 2020 NBL1 season, the team announced today.
Chilcott returned a team-high 9.3 rebounds in 2019, also leading the Spectres with 3.9 assists to go with 11.0 points per outing. The veteran guard appearing in 13-games for Nunawading in the inaugural NBL1 season before a knee injury sustained against the Melbourne Tigers sidelined her for the remainder of the Spectres campaign.
“I was disappointed to spend the best part of the season on the sidelines, so I’m pretty motivated to get back out there” Chilcott said when reflecting on her maiden NBL1 season.
“Coming back to play at Nunawading was a no-brainer. I love the club, the team and our coaches.”
“Nunawading always has solid teams and I know Flynnie is working hard to put the right pieces together because our goal in 2020 is to be a championship team, not just to make another finals appearance. I’m excited to be a part of that and to start working towards where we need to be.”
Known for her trademark ability to penetrate almost any defensive lineup, Chilcott added a more potent perimeter game to her repertoire in 2019, shooting at 44% from behind the arc to also lead the Spectres in 3-point percentage.
“She’s the definition of a blue-collar athlete,” Nunawading Spectres Head Coach Paul Flynn said.
“At the end of each season, like any team, we identify areas we need to improve on – Izzy just takes that information and invests in her own development to make us better. She never comes to us and says, we need to add a shooter or defender, she’ll just go and put the hours in herself to give us what we need.”
“We’re a better team when Izzy’s on the court, she gives us an incredible sense of composure and versatility. I really believe had she been healthy, it would have been a different ending for us last season.”
Chilcott is the Spectres’ first confirmed signing of the off-season with a number of players, both men’s and women’s expected to be announced by the club shortly.
Nunawading claimed the inaugural NBL1 Men’s Championship in 2019, with the Spectres falling in the Women’s Preliminary Final.
In 2020, the Spectres are set play 11 home game double-headers (women’s / men’s) at The Graveyard – Nunawading Basketball Centre, with the season scheduled to start in April.