Posted on 18 June, 2022

The NBL1 Cobra Men have made a huge in-season addition to their roster, signing sharpshooting Kilsyth junior, Jamie Ahale.

Ahale joins the Cobras following a five year collegiate career in the United States, spending the last four years with the University of Illinois (UIC) Flames. The 6’7 wing enjoyed an impressive career with the Flames, finishing his tenure at UIC with the ninth most three point makes in school history (168). Ahale boast the second best individual three-point shooting performance in school history, draining eight triples en-route to a career-highs 25 points against Oakland in 2020 – part of a blistering three game stretch where he drilled a combined 18 three pointers. More than just a lights out shooter, Ahale proved to be a strong defender and high-IQ wing for the Flames, with his on and off court smarts earning him Horizon League All-Academic honours in 2021.

Prior to his time in the US, Ahale enjoyed a standout junior career with the Cobras, collecting a number of individual and team accolades. The swingman was named the Junior Cobra Player of the Year – leading the U18 Boys to a VC silver medal – and VYC Team MVP in 2016, then collected the Big-V Rising Star award in 2017 while helping lead the Cobras to the VYC championship – alongside now-NBL1 teammates Ben Ursich, Mitch Dielemans and Zac Wuersching – and an U20’s VC gold medal. 

The former SEBC Saint now returns to his home club to round out an elite group of wings, with Ahale, Ursich, Corey Jeffs, Deng Deng, Hamish MacDonald and Nick Feller giving the Cobras un-rivalled length, athleticism, shooting and defensive disruption. Ahale will make his season debut tonight against the Mt Gambier Pioneers on the road.