Rhys Martin out for two months with ankle injury - Aug 31, 2010 (by Eurobasket News)
The injury bug has struck the Wollongong Hawks, with point guard Rhys Martin (193-G-86, college: Nova SE) succumbing to an on-going ankle problem.
Hours after the Hawks completed their first practice session with new import Gary Ervin (186-G-83, college: Arkansas) on Sunday, Martin rolled his already-suspect ankle while walking along the street with team-mate Dan Jackson [read more]
The injury bug has struck the Wollongong Hawks, with point guard Rhys Martin (193-G-86, college: Nova SE) succumbing to an on-going ankle problem.
Hours after the Hawks completed their first practice session with new import Gary Ervin (186-G-83, college: Arkansas) on Sunday, Martin rolled his already-suspect ankle while walking along the street with team-mate Dan Jackson.
The 24-year-old is almost certain to undergo surgery and is expected to miss at least the first two months of Wollongong's 2010-11 campaign.
'The road was slightly uneven and I just went over on it,' a dejected Martin said after watching the rest of the Hawks train yesterday.
'I expected to see a crater in the ground when I looked back. I couldn't believe it when there was virtually nothing there.'
Martin initially injured his ankle almost six weeks ago while playing for the Mackay Meteors in the Queensland Basketball League.
Doctors told the 187cm backcourt general he needed an operation, but they said he could delay surgery and attempt to get through the 28-game season with the right ankle strapped.
Unfortunately, Martin's ankle was unstable to the point that he re-injured himself simply while walking.
'I see the specialist on Monday and he'll determine whether I'm going to get surgery or not,' he said.
'Now that I've re-injured it, I guess I'm probably leaning more towards surgery. It's about a three-month recovery process, so if I'm going to do it, I want to do it soon so I can get back on the court as soon as possible.'
Coming off a career-best season, back-up playmaker Martin was looking forward to forming a solid 1-2 punch with projected starter Gary Ervin.
'It's very frustrating because we've got almost the whole group of guys back together and we've got two guys (Ervin and Oscar Forman) who are awesome fits for this team,' he said.
'I have to somehow keep my fitness up and slot back in when my foot's better, and there's a good feeling that we're going to build on what we finished last year. With eight guys back from last year, we don't have to go back to the teaching side of things. We can just move forward.'
With no Martin, the Hawks are desperately hoping Ervin receives clearance from immigration authorities in time for Friday night's trial against the Sydney Kings at the Snakepit.
The Wollongong ahm Hawks have signed Wollongong born and former Illawarra junior representative Tyson Demos (192-G-88) for the 2010/11 National Basketball League Season.
Tyson will be signed as the Wollongong ahm Hawks 11th contracted player and will be a part of the squad for the entire season ahead. The 191cm guard has been training with the Hawks the past two months in between his SEABL commitments with the Southern Districts Spartans where he averaged 14 [read more]
The Wollongong ahm Hawks have signed Wollongong born and former Illawarra junior representative Tyson Demos (192-G-88) for the 2010/11 National Basketball League Season.
Tyson will be signed as the Wollongong ahm Hawks 11th contracted player and will be a part of the squad for the entire season ahead. The 191cm guard has been training with the Hawks the past two months in between his SEABL commitments with the Southern Districts Spartans where he averaged 14.5 points per game in 2010.
A former Australian Institute of Sport scholarship holder, Tyson represented Illawarra and New South Wales throughout his junior representative years.
Its great to be able to have Tyson involved in our program here. Hes an Illawarra local, played his junior representative basketball here and his family and friends are here. Hes been working very hard while training with us the past several weeks and were just glad we have been able to make sure hes part of our program for the upcoming season. Head Coach Gordie McLeod said.
The 22 year old who has spent the past two seasons with the Gold Coast Blaze is glad to be returning home to Wollongong and happy to be part of the Wollongong Hawks program for the upcoming season.
Im really looking forward to joining the Wollongong Hawks this season. To be able to represent your home town team in the NBL is a good feeling, especially being home close to family and friends again. Tyson Demos said.
Ive grown up watching guys like Glen Saville & Mat Campbell since I was a kid; its fantastic now to be part of the Wollongong Hawks and alongside those greats who have represented our region for all those years.
Im thankful Gordie has given me the chance to be part of the program this year. This gives me the opportunity to keep improving my skills day in and day out. He added.
Demos will be the Wollongong ahm Hawks 11th contracted player for the 2010/11 Wollongong ahm Hawks squad and will join Glen Saville, Mat Campbell, Larry Davidson, Dan Jackson, Rhys Martin, Dave Gruber, Tim Coenraad, Tim Behrendorff, Oscar Forman and soon to arrive American import Gary Ervin.
Wildcats sign three, complete roster for the 2010/11 NBL season - Aug 31, 2010 (by Eurobasket News)
The Perth Wildcats have completed their roster for the 2010/11 NBL season signing Joel Wagner (184-G-87), Greg Hire (201-F-87, college: Augusta St.) and Jarrod Balcombe (90) as the club's three development players [read more]
The Perth Wildcats have completed their roster for the 2010/11 NBL season signing Joel Wagner (184-G-87), Greg Hire (201-F-87, college: Augusta St.) and Jarrod Balcombe (90) as the club's three development players.
Wagner returns for his second straight season as a development player with the 'Cats after an outstanding State Basketball League season with the Perth Redbacks, with power forward Hire earning his spot after a strong season at Wanneroo and swingman Balcombe joining them as an exciting prospect who has played well with the East Perth Eagles.
Wagner clearly benefitted from his year with the NBL champions last season and put in a tremendous SBL season with the Redbacks that saw him average 13.5 points a game and 10.5 assists.
Beveridge has been impressed with his improvement and will have no trouble throwing him in for the 'Cats if required.
'We watched him through the SBL season and he was probably the No. 1 Australian point guard there. He was averaging well over 10 assists a game and physically he is so much bigger and stronger now. He's just done a terrific job,' Beveridge said.
'I'm trying to get people in to fill positions so that if a Brad Robbins or Damian Martin goes down that we do have a back up plan. I'm very comfortable that Joel could come in to do that and that he's really come on, and grown as a player and person.'
Hire has returned after graduating from Augusta State and put in a strong SBL season at Wanneroo, where he is also a board member, by averaging 15.1 points, 12.8 boards and 4.4 assists a game.
Beveridge is looking forward to his continued improvement on court, but can't speak highly enough of how highly he rates him as a character.
'Greg Hire is one of the hardest working players that I've come across in a long, long time. He's only 22 years of age but is one of the most mature guys I've met,' Beveridge said.
'He has just graduated from college, has come in and is a board member of Wanneroo basketball at 22 and is helping to set up their development programs, and does all this extra work in the community.
'As a character and person he is first-class and he is just a workhorse. He's a 6'5 or 6'6 power forward and will need to do develop his perimeter skills, but from an attitude and work ethic point of view he can definitely be an NBL player.'
Balcombe is the youngest player with the Wildcats for the upcoming season at 20 and joins the team on the back of a solid SBL season with East Perth where he averaged 11.8 points and 4.2 rebounds a game that came after he was the Eagles' MVP in 2008.
He has also played high school basketball in New York in 2007, and been part of the State teams in 2005 and 07 and the ITC program in 2004, 05 and 06. Beveridge feels that he has enormous potential.
'Jarrod is a diamond in the rough. He's our youngest guy at 20 and he's a super athletic kid. He has untapped potential and does things that you can't really teach,' he said.
'He's a 6'6, long and athletic player and will be going against Stevie Weigh, Cameron Tovey and Jesse Wagstaff day in and day out. Right now he could be something special.'
Beveridge will also keep the other players who attended the development player trials involved and is excited by the talent levels in Western Australia.
'I didnt want to put a number on how many we brought in when we did the trials, but these three I really believe can be NBL players and compete right now. That's why they are here,' Beveridge said.
'As for all the other guys that we havent selected, we are going to continue with their development by running fortnightly training sessions and there were a number of kids there that I like and want to keep them involved in the program for the future. It's just exciting to have these WA guys involved.'
Courtesy of The Perth Wildcats (taken from www.nbl.com.au)
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