Hawks core stays on as Cody Ellis latest to re-sign

The Illawarra Hawks core is starting to shape up as Rob Beveridge announced his latest re-signing today, Cody Ellis staying on with the club for a further two seasons.

Ellis was a revelation in Illawarra last season, becoming one of the focal points throughout the Hawks back half of the season, making the most of his increased playing time when injury struck teammates around him.

Most notably, it was Ellis who stepped up when Kirk Penney had to sit a brief part of the year due to injury - swiftly entering the starting line-up and providing impact in a team well known for their scoring output.

Averaging just over 6ppg and 2.5rpg in 2015/16, Ellis will look to take the next step in his professional career after now spending three years in the league.

With no Kirk Penney on the roster (yet potential players at his position to come), Ellis will have his sights set on earning a permanent starting role in Bevo's team.

The Hawks have kept the majority of their core together, a recipe for success as shown by championship teams such as the Perth Wildcats and New Zealand Breakers.

With AJ Ogilvy, Rhys Martin, Kevin White and now Ellis all coming back, plus the fact more re-signings are expected - the attention now turns to the recruiting side of things when it comes to Illawarra.