Hoops

Gong new import

Shame he didn't get the chance to play in a game or four. Players like Mike Mercer and previously Ismail Mohamad are exactly what the NBL needs IMO...

Yup, he has signed up for Supercats again, an article in the local paper confirms it. I hope that he can show them what he can do, if he gets a chance they might keep him, if he gets the chance...

Thanks for the input, guys. Really interesting stuff.

Yeah and that 07-08 year, they were ranked top 25 and made it to the sweet 16.

They had players like Baynes, Derrick Low, Kyle Weaver and also Klay Thompson came the year after i think.

Getting mins for a top d1 team is damn hard.

Just ask Jackson Aldridge about his experience.

On the other hand a player like Mitch McCarron went to Metro State and he looks like he is having a ball..starter abd putting up damn good numbers

I don't think they made much of an effort with where the Breakers got him into their academy and attempted to exploit his strengths and work on his weaknesses.

I wonder if his College Coach has ever seen any footage of him playing at the World Champs for NZ ?

Washington State is Div 1, I believe? Harder at that level, especially if a coach drafts over you!

Then all of a sudden you are watching more than playing, so he looks to have made a good decision in the end.

Still, he had a go and can never have regrets because he at least gave college a try.

Thanks Mystro, it's pleasing to see how well he is going these days, quite a good player is Abercrombie...

Re: Bear

Thomas Abercrombie went to Washington State University for a year and was almost ready to quit Basketball until he found a home at the Breakers.
He only played in 12 games and often found himself watching from the bench with little direction from the coaching staff on how to rectify this.
Like Paul said for a lot of guys it's the best 4 years of their lives and for others the culture shock is too much or the distance from family and friends along with the academic curricular.

Cheers, I think those issues are common, some players can get over them, some can't. Test of character and a life experience either way.

Injuries can be sheer bad luck and play their part too, in a major way I would think, thanks mate.

Fair enough, any trends perhaps? Was there something similar that people hated or found hard in particular?

I know players ending up at the right college with no serious injuries and ending up a good fit for their team can have a great experience, but what would you consider the main problems facing someone would be or the main complaints you have noticed perhaps?

I think a lot of people have this perception that where a player first ends up..thats where his skill lies for his whole career i.e. there is no notion of improvement post college.


But, players really do improve in leaps and bounds throughout their pro career.

McKee is a great example of this

Conklin will only get better considering the NZNBL was his first pro gig. Rotnei Clarke could find himself in Europe soon enough as can Kerron Johnson (from what i have seen thus far).

Its just a matter of breaking that stereotype and showing people that where you start isnt always where you finish

No worries, I realise it's a generalisation, just wanted your thoughts on the players you may have spoken to recently to guage an opinon that's all mate, cheers...

So, Paul do you feel our guys going over to college etc... and coming back have generally speaking benefitted from the experience?

Agree with those comments about labels on imports, very true that an import is an import, no matter the league, I guess we just use the simplest of explanations don't we?

What is nice to see is players coming here and wanting to come here, knowing that our leagues are of a high standard and playing in Australia is not a backward step in ones career...

Good luck to Mike Mercer, he deserves this shot at the NBL and if he does make the team I think he would be a great fit for the competition, really will add to that exciting brand they are going for IMO.

Also, from my obs, I believe he is a better fit at the SG spot than the PG position because he can score from anywhere and that should be his first option, but we will see how it works out I guess...

lol... yes, always funny to see someone criticising while being anon...

I think we've seen a few good SEABL imports around, and with budgets as they are, as a secondary import, I don't see why more aren't given more of a chance, unless the step up to the NBL really is that big...