Page 60 - Tropic Magazine Issue 13

TAIPANS 20 SEASON ANNIVERSARY
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Faces of the 20 Season
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All you need to know about the No. 6 – JARROD KENNY
new-look 2018/2019 Taipans.
No. 3 – MITCH YOUNG HEIGHT: 188cm
WEIGHT: 88kg
HEIGHT: 206cm DOB: 17-9-85
WEIGHT: 105kg
DOB: 6-8-90 The Tall Black has spent the last three
years with the Perth Wildcats, winning
Mitch Young signs with the Snakes for back-to-back Championships (2016,
the second stint in his five-year career, 2017) while establishing himself as a
after originally joining the Taipans on a prominent point guard in the NBL with
two-year deal in 2013. In his NBL debut a distinguished basketball IQ. Kenny
he averaged 4.5 points and 3.1 rebounds, comes to Cairns after playing in career-
before helping the Taipans to their first best form last season, with an impressive
minor premiership in 2015, completing improvement in all statistical areas
87 games in orange. Glandular fever following Round 14. This January, he
hindered his most recent NBL season improved his scoring average to almost
No. 1 – MELO TRIMBLE in Brisbane, but he made up for it and six points per game, and his three-point
then some during the off-season. Playing percentage spiked by almost 30 per cent.
for his home town of Logan, “Youngy” The 32-year old recorded season-highs
HEIGHT: 189cm finished his QBL campaign with a in scoring (12) assists (five) and rebounds
WEIGHT: 85kg double-double average of 22.6 points and (four) entering 2018, as well as a career-
DOB: 2-2-95 12 rebounds per game for the Thunder. high four triples against the Kings.

Romelo “Melo” Trimble will make his
international debut with the Taipans. The Taipans made history when they
The 23-year old was signed by the signed shooting guard Devon Hall, as
Minnesota Timberwolves last year, the first regional NBL team to acquire
before he became an affiliate player for an NBA Draft Pick for their roster. Pre-
their G-League side, the Iowa Wolves. Draft, the 23-year old spent five years
In the 2017-18 season, he played 48 at the University of Virginia under
games and averaged 16.1 points, 5.4 Tony Bennett, who is widely regarded
assists and 3.5 rebounds. Trimble as the best defensive college coach in
attended his “dream” school, the the United States. As a senior, Hall
University of Maryland and averaged averaged 11.7 points, 4.2 rebounds and
15.9 points, 3.9 assists and 3.7 rebounds 3.1 assists, shooting at 44.3 per cent
in 104 games across three seasons. As No. 5 – DEVON HALL from three for the Cavaliers, on a team
a junior, he was unanimously voted to that won the ACC regular season (30-2
the First Team Big Ten after improving record) and the number one overall seed
to 16.8 points per game in 2016-17, and HEIGHT: 198cm in the 2018 NCAA tournament.
was named Associate Press Honourable WEIGHT: 94kg
Mention All-American. DOB: 7-7-95

60 • Tropic • Issue 13