Australian shooting guard Ahlise Hurst is returning for her second stint with the Tauihi Basketball Aotearoa side later this year.
Hurst was a key figure in the Hoiho starting five in her first season with the squad last year, when they made the semifinals, and will be a welcome addition again with her three-point power.
She joins Dunedin Tall Fern Zoe Richards as the first two player signings announced, alongside coach Todd Marshall who is back for his second year at the helm.
Hurst played 13 games for the Hoiho last season, averaging 36 minutes and 18.6 points, 2.3 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 1.2 steals a game.
"I wanted to return because I just had so much fun, honestly, playing, as well as with the team and the people around us," Hurst said.
"I just really enjoyed being in the environment that we had.
"I’m looking forward to being with this team again, and building off what we started last season — it’s going to be a lot of fun."
Since last season, Hurst has been back in Australia playing for the Sydney Flames in the WNBL. Hurst played in 14 games for the Sydney Flames, banking 30 points, three rebounds, four assists and four steals.
Hurst is now part of the Ringwood Hawks roster in the NBL 1 semi-professional league in Australia.
In her 15 games so far, Hurst has averaged 16.60 points, three assists, 3.5 rebounds and 1.8 steals a game.
Before joining the Hoiho, Hurst studied at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque in 2018, where she earned a starting spot and played some big minutes in her freshman year.
After three years at New Mexico, and searching for the chance to play in a higher conference, Hurst committed her final two years to the University of Oregon.
She finished at Oregon in June last year and landed in Dunedin a month later.
The Tauihi league will run from October to December this year.
