GAME CENTRE
NEWCASTLE Basketball is delighted to announce home-grown hero Ryan Beisty has booked his return flight with the General Roberts Hotel Newcastle Falcons for the 2023 NBL1 season.
Fresh from his selection in the 2022 NBL1 East All-Star Five, Beisty will spearhead Newcastle’s assault on the 2023 title after helping the Falcons finish third after last year’s regular season.
“I’m really happy to be back with this group and playing for Newcastle again,” Beisty said.
“I’m focused on improving on last year with the same core group of guys, and I know we all want to go further than last year and win a banner for Newcastle.”
The 27-year-old City Limits junior enjoyed a break-out season with the Falcons last year, leading the East Conference in rebounding (11.8 a game) while averaging 15.1 points, 4.4 assists and 2.1 steals.
Beisty racked up 12 double-doubles, was named Round 7 NBL1 East Player of the Week after posting a season-high 29 points and 15 rebounds in an 86-85 victory over Illawarra on May 21, and earned NBL1 East Conference All-Star Five selection at the end of the season.
Apart from his consistent scoring and rebounding, the versatile small forward was a defensive menace and was always given the assignment on the opposing team’s most potent scoring threat. He was considered unlucky not to be acknowledged as the NBL1 East Defensive Player of the Year.
A former Kahibah Public School and Whitebridge High School student, Beisty played all his junior basketball in Newcastle before continuing his development in the US college system at Regis University in Denver, Colorado.
Beisty then had a professional stint in England for Plymouth Raiders in the 2020-21 British Basketball League, before returning home to Newcastle to fly with the Falcons.
Newcastle Basketball General Manager Matt Neason said re-signing Beisty was a priority for the club, and was looking forward to making further signing announcements before the start of the season.
“Ryan has been instrumental in driving training standards over the off-season,” Neason said.
“He’s a fantastic leader for our team, on and off the court. There has been some great progress in some of our younger players which really helps our depth, and Ryan’s leadership and guidance has been a big part that”.
Beisty’s commitment to the Falcons comes after Nicole Munger re-signed for Newcastle’s NBL1 women’s team. The Falcons open the season on the road against Sutherland Sharks on March 11 and are locked in for a home season-opener on March 18 against Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles.
