Seebohm this week became the first player signed to the Dragons’ development roster for the 2007-08 season - and Heal can’t wait.

The 190cm guard joins the Dragons from the Australian Institute of Sport, where he is on the verge of selection in the under-19 national team.

“I can’t wait to join the Dragons, it’s a really big opportunity for me,” Seebohm said.

“It’s a new, exciting team and the opportunity to work out with Shane Heal and Joe Ingles and top players like that is enormous.”

Seebohm, currently in action for the AIS in the South East Australian Basketball League, will use his time with the Dragons to boost key areas of his game.

“I need to improve my strength and shooting and develop the ability to defend a number of positions,” he said.

And Heal knows the 19-year-old has exactly what it takes to reach those goals.

“Shannon is really exciting,” Heal said.

“I went up (to Canberra) with the under-19 Australian national team and he was the one that stood out on court and then the report from Marty Clarke, the head coach at the Institute, was glowing.”

While Heal knows Seebohm has exceptional talent, it’s his hunger to succeed that has the South Dragons coach truly excited.

“It’s his talent, but it’s also his work ethic,” Heal said.

“He’s a really hard kid and really motivated to do well. I think he’s hungry to succeed at the NBL level and I’m really excited about being able to work with Shannon; being a guard, I think it’s going to fantastic.

“He’s a guy that has really good all-round skills but I think the biggest thing that attracted me to him was his attitude, and without that sort of attitude you don’t have the same sort of opportunities to be able to go all the way.

“He is very, very hungry to succeed here in Australia and to have somebody who’s going to be in the starting five in the Australian under-19 team is really exciting for us to build on.”

Seebohm’s signing is in line with the Dragons’ foundation objective to attract and develop new talent.

“I think it does reinforce my philosophy of wanting to sign young kids that have a chance (to make it) and I think Shannon’s best basketball is going to be in a few years but we’re hoping he can contribute almost immediately as well,” Heal said.

“We hope that Joe (Ingles) has the opportunity to go overseas in the next couple of years and we need guys like Shannon to be able to step up in that period to take his spot.”