Leagues leading rebounder to crash boards for Eagles in 2024

Eagles starter Sebit Reath is back for another season at the East Perth Eagles.  Having taken out the award for the league’s top rebounder for the 2023 NBL1 season the 208cm, 6’10” Centre is set to wear the Red, White and Blue in 2024. Sebit sighted the “relationships I built and the sense of community around the club made it a no brainer to return to East Perth”.

When Coach Carl was first introduced to Reath he said he knew he could play but he needed to be sure he would be a good fit for the team. A coffee at the local Redman sealed the deal as Carl got to know Sebit and decided he would make a great addition to the team’s talent and culture. And the feelings were mutual, “The people were the main reason I chose to play for the Eagles” said Sebit.

But whilst most would class the 208cm player as a centre or power forward, Coach Carl took a different approach during the season moving Sebit to the three man. “It comes down to Sebit and the make-up of the team. After getting to know his strengths and given the way he can handle the ball and see the play, he’s better suited to the wings. He’s got great length to bother players on the other teams as well”.

While a young lad, the Sudanese born player preferred the grassy fields of the soccer pitch, and only picked up a basketball at 13 years old. It was something he could do with his brother.  Sebit started to take his basketball more seriously when he was 16 years old, getting into state basketball teams and training with his brothers in his spare time. But the turning-point his career came in his sophomore year at Lee College in Houston, Texas. At 18, Sebit was award a scholarship and said his experience was “a lot of work and growth”.

And clearly Sebit knows what work is all about as he balances his basketball commitments with his studies. Sebit is set to take on his final year of his master’s degree in 2024, and has an internship at BHP. Sebit attributed his ability to juggle his sport and study to his time in America. Students on college scholarships are expected to maintain their grades and commitment to studies while also performing on the basketball court.

The Eagles are certainly happy to welcome Sebit back as they prepare to build on the progress made last season. “Even though we had a slow start, the progress we made as a team is one of those things that stood out to me last season”, said Sebit. In the lead up to 2024, Sebit says his goal is to do whatever it takes to help the team and get the fans some good wins.

The Eagles will play their first home game on Saturday April 6 against the Warwick Senators.

Feature image by: Adam Westerhout/Courtside Culture.