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Tasmania JackJumpers lock in Championship trio

Fresh off the franchise's first NBL Championship, the Tasmania JackJumpers have locked away three primary players ahead of the opening of free agency.

That includes Jack McVeigh -- the newly-crowned Championship Series MVP -- who signed a two-year extension to remain with the JackJumpers through the 2026-27 season.

McVeigh averaged 17.3 points and 5.9 rebounds over the regular season and playoffs combined, with the Australian forward named to the All-NBL Second Team and ultimately walking away with the Larry Sengstock Trophy for the MVP of the Championship Series.

The JackJumpers announced the re-signing of McVeigh, as well as Anthony Drmic and Majok Deng, at the team's MVP Gala Ball on Friday evening.

Drmic signed a two-year deal to remain with the JackJumpers, sources told ESPN, with a team option on the second year. He averaged 6.8 points and 4.7 rebounds per game in his first campaign with the team -- shooting 36.3 percent from downtown -- and was a consistent starter over the course of the season.

Deng agreed to a two-year deal, sources said, with the 31-year-old playing a key role for the JackJumpers in the Championship Series against Melbourne United, coming up particularly big in Game 3.

The JackJumpers defeated United 3-2 in the 2024 Championship Series, sealing the title with an 83-81 win in Game 5. It's the JackJumpers' first championship in their three-year existence.

The core of that title-winning team is largely locked in for at least the 2024-25 season.

The JackJumpers will go into the official opening of Free Agency -- April 15 -- with McVeigh, Drmic, Deng, Will Magnay, Milton Doyle, Sean Macdonald, Fabian Krslovic, and Clint Steindl contracted.

The team is currently engaged in extension talks with Macdonald, sources said.

Will McDowell-White -- who's expected to decline his player option with the New Zealand Breakers -- is high on the list of priorities for the JackJumpers going into free agency, sources said.

NBL Free Agency opens at 9am (AEDT) on Monday, April 15. Until then, teams are permitted to re-sign players or exercise options. Options must be confirmed by 12pm on April 11.