Heritage Round | Rocky basketball everything for Tweedys

Neal Tweedy is already a legendary coach and now all three of his children have burgeoning playing careers and have played with Rockhampton Basketball with Emily and twin brother Jack currently embracing their biggest ever roles with the Cyclones and Rockets.

The legacy as a coach with the Rockets of Neal is already well and truly cemented, and everything at this point is just a bonus, with him in his 26th season either in the QBL or now NBL1 North coaching the Rockhampton men.

That has included winning four championships along the way which all came when children Ben, Emily and Jack were still just growing up.

The trio are now all turning into fine basketball players in their own right with Ben having a breakout 2024 season under his dad as coach and now being at college, and Jack starting to shine in 2026 including being fresh off a 37-point performance last Sunday.

Then there is Emily carrying the flag for the female side of the family along with her Mum who has been involved at Rockhampton herself, and has played a bigger part than any of them could ever thank her enough for to get them to where they are now, including Neal.

The whole family just doesn’t know any different than being so involved in Rockhampton Basketball and being such valuable and important members of the Rockhampton community.

Emily is still just 18 years of age, but already has such a mature head on her shoulders, is in her fourth NBL1 season already and can't think of anything better than how cemented the family is in Rockhampton.

"Rocky Basketball has always been a massive part of my life and my family’s life, so it means a lot to us," Emily said.

"Growing up around the club, I have been surrounded by many people that have left an impact on me both on and off the court.

"My Dad’s players would often come around for team dinner, and now being a part of the Cyclones, the club has always felt like a big family and that’s what makes this club so special.

"We’ve all put a lot of time and effort into the club, so to be able to represent Rockhampton at the highest level is something I am proud of."

Now getting to live out dream playing

What Emily and brothers Ben and Jack always dreamed of doing given the family involvement at Rockhampton Basketball was to play for either the Cyclones and Rockets once they were old enough to do so.

Older brother Ben first played with the Rockets back in 2021 while he was still a 15-year-old as well and then he had a big season in 2024 as an 18-year-old going for 16.6 points and 10.1 assists a game while playing 35.7 minutes on a team that reached the finals.

He has now been at college since firstly with University of Wisconsin - Green Bay and now at Colgate University while the twins are now both finding their feet at the same time on the respective Cyclones and Rockets teams of 2026.

Emily is having her best season so far and then twin brother Jack is getting his first NBL1 minutes and starring including on Sunday his breakout 37-point performance with 8/12 three-point shooting in the road win over the North Gold Coast Seahawks.

Emily sure enjoyed seeing Jack do that once she had come back out to watch following her game and for all three of them to now get to live their dream of being basketball players is something to savour.

"It was cool to see all of Jack’s hard work pay off on Sunday and for him to achieve that," Emily said.

"We loved growing up around the Rockets and Cyclones and it has always been a goal for all three of us to represent our hometown at the NBL1 level.

"Even though Ben can’t play due to college, it is nice having Jack back home in the Rocky colours."

Amazing run as coach of Dad

It's incredible to think that Emily's Dad Neal's coaching tenure with the Rockhampton Rockets has now extended well beyond how long she's been alive.

He is now in his 26th season coaching the team and she hasn’t even turned 19 yet so she was born into a life where she knows no different than her father being a basketball coach, and she wouldn’t have it any other way.

That has included championship triumphs in 2008, 2010, 2013 and 2014 and even with those, Emily was not even one yet for the first, only two for the second, five for the third and six for the fourth so she doesn't quite remember them.

But she has sure heard plenty about them since and now for her to be a championship player and her dad a four-time winning championship coach, it's quite the family legacy.

"I am very thankful for both my Dad and Mum who have been amazing supporters," Emily said.

"If I am being honest, I don’t remember some of my Dad’s earlier championships, but I have grown up hearing about them and seeing the lasting impact it has left on the club."

Being part of early success

Even though she was still only 15, Emily joined the Rockhampton women's NBL1 squad for the first time in 2023 and that was on a team that won 14 of 19 games and made it all the way to the Grand Final before losing to the Northside Wizards.

Then still just 16, she was part of the 2024 team that won 14 of 17 games and then got back to the Grand Final and came back from losing Game 1 to the Wizards to claim the last two to claim the championship.

To be part of two such strong seasons in her first time as part of the Cyclones program is something that Emily will rightfully cherish forever.

"Our championship run was a great experience and something I’m grateful to have been a part of especially at such a young age," Emily said.

"We had a great group of girls, and it taught me the importance of team culture and buying in to the program.

"I learnt a lot from the older girls around me and it was incredible to be a part of great success and give back to the club that has given me so much to me throughout the years."

Already experienced at 18 years of age

It's amazing to think that Emily has now already spent three seasons in the Rockhampton women's team including part of two Grand Final runs and a championship when she's still only 18 years of age.

But growing up in a basketball family and being around Rockhampton Basketball her whole life meant it was always going to give her a great headstart, and now she continues to grow and get better virtually every day.

Her start across the opening six games of the 2026 season is now seeing her get the most minutes and put up the best numbers of her career so far with five points a game in 16.7 minutes while shooting 41 per cent from the field and 35 per cent from downtown.

Remarkably, 23 of her 27 shot attempts across six games have come from behind the three-point arc and it included her going 3/5 earlier this month against the Brisbane Capitals.

Emily couldn’t be more thankful for the opportunities she has been given so early into her career and is grateful to current coach Drew Fenton for the opportunities so far in 2026.

"I started out at the age of 15 at the NBL1 level and have had three years to learn and develop under great coaches and build friendships with my teammates that will continue long past basketball," Emily said.

"Even though still being 18, I have three years of experience and Drew has given me the opportunity to compete at this level and play a role for the team."

Cyclones team of 2026

While the Rockets team coached by Neal and with Jack a key part of that team currently sit on a 2-4 record after that win on Sunday against the Seahawks, Emily and her Cyclones are 1-5 after the opening six matches.

However, with a team featuring Emily Kiser, Shanique Lucas, captain Tai Wakelin-Gray, Gracie Stugart, Akaysha Muggeridge and company, Emily has no doubt they will only keep improving now in the second half of the season to make a run at returning to finals action.

"Yeah, teams always take time to blend," Emily said.

"Every year new players have to come in from around the world and with Rockhampton being such a small association it is important that these players blend well with the locals and the community.

"We have a great group of girls both on and off the court and we have been working hard at practice and hopefully this will show on the court."

Involvement beyond just playing

And for Emily, the involvement she has with Rockhampton Basketball expends well beyond what you see on the weekend on the court when she's running around in the No. 22 jersey.

She is also now the Competitions Coordinator at the club and when you combine that role with what she's doing as a player, and then her lifetime involvement of being in and around the club with her dad as coach, she just couldn’t imagine being involved with anything else.

"Yeah, it is now good to see the club from another side, now as a player, supporter and employee," Emily said.

"My mum worked the office for 8 years, and to now be a part of that and connected to the community in another way is very enjoyable."