Joy in the Rush Squad

The Ballarat Rush are pleased to announce that they have signed Joy Burke as an import for the 2016 South East Australian Basketball League (SEABL) season.

Burke has recently finished playing with the Bendigo Spirit in the Womens National Basketball League, where Rush Head Coach David Flint is an Assistant Coach.

Flint is happy to be able to sign the Spirits import “Joy played in her first WNBL season during the 2015/16 season and is looking forward to continuing her basketball career in Australia with the Ballarat Rush in the SEABL”

Flint continued “Joy will be an integral part of our success and I have no doubt Joy will be one of the best front court players in the SEABL this season”

Burke has returned to America since the end of the WNBL season for a short break to catch up with family friends.

Before Burke joined the Bendigo Spirit she was paying with Horsholm 79ers in Denmark after a five year College stint with Arizona State University Sun Devils.

Burke is thrilled about her opportunity to play with the Rush “I am so excited to be able to stay in Country Victoria and play Basketball for a great team” Burke continued “I had Dave as coach at the Spirit and I love playing for him and believe he is a great coach that will help our team reach its potential.”

Burke will be joining her Spirit team mates in Molly Mathews and Ashleigh Spencer at the Rush which was a contributing factor to Burke signing on “They are all great players and team mates which made the decision a bit easier.”

Flint cannot wait for Burke to return and get stuck into work “Not only is Joy an outstanding player she is also a tremendous person who is looking forward to working in the community, going to schools promoting the game and also working with the Basketball Ballarat and Rush sponsors”.

Basketball Ballarat’s Elite Teams Administrator Melissa Thomas expects Burke to arrive in the next fortnight “Joy has been out in Australia since September with the Spirit, she has returned home for a few weeks as this is the only chance she would get until August.” Thomas continued “Joy will arrive in time to train with her team mates in preparation for the season opener against Bendigo on Friday April 1.