Jessup shoots for Hawks win in 50th cap

Illawarra Hawks sharp-shooter Justinian Jessup will bring up his 50th cap for the club, during Monday's round 10 blockbuster against the South East Melbourne Phoenix.

The Boise State alum joined the foundation club at the start of the NBL21 season and has played in all bar one match since - including being a pivotal part of the Hawks' semi-final run.

"It's a great milestone and something I'm proud of - I'm really enjoying my time here at the Hawks," Golden State Warriors draft pick Jessup said.

"The 50 games has come around quickly and a win on Monday will make the night all the more special.

"The club and I have made huge strides under coach [Brian] Goorjian and there's a sense around the group that we are building towards something extraordinary."

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Both our Hawks and the <a href="https://twitter.com/SEMelbPhoenix?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SEMelbPhoenix</a> are desperate to return to the <a href="https://twitter.com/NBL?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NBL</a> winner&#39;s circle on Monday, after suffering heavy last-up defeats.<br><br>?: <a href="https://t.co/m0LyYHVBVb">https://t.co/m0LyYHVBVb</a><br>??: <a href="https://t.co/iLZOGaXScS">https://t.co/iLZOGaXScS</a><br>?: <a href="https://twitter.com/ESPNAusNZ?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ESPNAusNZ</a> via <a href="https://twitter.com/kayosports?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@kayosports</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/Foxtel?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Foxtel</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WeAreIllawarra?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WeAreIllawarra</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FlyAsOne?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FlyAsOne</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NBL22?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NBL22</a> <a href="https://t.co/tNVtH7CMUG">pic.twitter.com/tNVtH7CMUG</a></p>&mdash; Illawarra Hawks Basketball (@illawarrahawks) <a href="https://twitter.com/illawarrahawks/status/1490474701583372288?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 6, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Jessup is the first NBL Next Star to reach 50 games and is the all-time leading scorer (646 points) from that program, sitting ahead of Didi Louzada (432 points in 46 games), Josh Giddey (304 in 28), Mojave King (216 in 40), LaMelo Ball (204 in 12) and Brian Bowen (189 in 30).

Last season, the 23-year-old averaged 13.2 ppg and this campaign, he is scoring 13.3ppg. 

The last time Jessup's Hawks faced off with the Phoenix, he equalled a career-high 26-points (20 after halftime) and shot 5-from-8 from downtown.

The tip-off to Monday's game at the WIN Entertainment Centre is at 7.30pm AEDT, with tickets available via Ticketmaster.

The round 10 fixture will also be broadcast on ESPN via Kayo Sports and Foxtel.