HOMEGROWN man mountain Matt Hodgson is the latest – and biggest - Australian Boomer to be locked and loaded by the Brisbane Bullets for the 2018-19 NBL season.

The Ipswich product stands at 211cm tall and tips the scales at 115kg and has decided to head home to Queensland to work under Boomers and Bullets head coach Andrej Lemanis.

Hodgson started for the Boomers during the Asia Cup campaign and World Cup qualifiers but missed the Commonwealth Games due to a knee injury.

The 26-year-old joined Adelaide in 2015 after attending St Mary’s College in the US but was stuck behind 36ers star Daniel Johnson and received limited court time in the recent NBL grand final series.

Lemanis is excited about the prospect of working with Hodgson on a daily basis because he knows how valuable the centre can be as an offensive and defensive presence in the paint.

“I’m stoked to get Matty to the Bullets. He is a local boy from just up the road but he is also certainly good enough to hold a spot on the roster,’’ Lemanis said.

“He brings legitimate size. He is a massive target inside and his shot-blocking presence is something we haven’t had for the past two seasons.

“To go with that physical size, he is also athletic. He moves well for someone of that size.

“He blocks shots, he really goes after rebounds and is a bit of a unique specimen for the NBL.’’

Lemanis said Hodgson was already looking forward to locking horns with prize Sydney Kings recruit and Australian basketball superstar Andrew Bogut next season.

“He can’t wait for that opportunity which is a real measuring stick on how he is going compared to someone of Andrew’s stature,’’ he said.

“Andrew coming back to the NBL is very good for many reasons but one of them is that players like Matty get an understanding of where they are at on the international stage.’’

Meanwhile, former Bullets sharpshooter Daniel Kickert has linked with Bogut’s Kings for the next two seasons.

Kickert has previously played with Bogut at the Boomers and the AIS.

The 34-year-old completed the rare 50-40-90 shooting percentage feat in both seasons with the Bullets when he was part of the squad that relaunched the club.

Kickert was also part of the Boomers side that won the gold medal at the Commonwealth Games. He was linked to a possible return to Europe but has opted to join the revitalised Kings.

Melbourne United has re-signed captain Chris Goulding with the Larry Sengstock medallist inking a two-year deal with the reigning NBL champions.