Big Day Out Preview
The new look Suns open up with their first pre-season showing against a revamped Mandurah outfit this Sunday in what promises to be a high scoring and up tempo affair at the ‘Solar Centre’.
The Suns have put in an extensive pre-season campaign under rookie Head Coach Ash McCormick which should be the key ingredient into getting off to a good start with many new faces coming onboard over the summer.
High profile recruit Kenny ‘The Chosen 1’ Brunner has slotted in nicely adding some flair and a steady head at the point while 7”0ft monster Justin Brown has been exceptional and is in great shape. Other key additions include Lakeside championship duo Luke Ford and Nebo Franich who returns home to accompany Perry Lakes convert Ed Hall.
Adrian Majstrovich hasn’t missed a beat from his MVP showing in 2009 but the development of Ben Smith, Joel Questel and experience of Austin Bruton see’s the 2010 roster offering greater variety and flexibility which has the Suns talked about as a favourite to take out the title by many in what will be the leagues 22nd year of operation.
With the SBL being renowned for teams winning games by outscoring their opposition, the Suns new approach is about making a stance at the defensive end which will trigger an up tempo style of play engaging the fans.
Now to the Magic who only shifted three wins home last year but are looking to reverse their fortunes acquiring import duo Max Hunter and Casey Crevelone as key additions.
Hunter, hails from Kentucky and is a 6”5 blue collar worker who will be required to play both forward positions bringing a presence to their front line while Crevelone, a Western New Mexico graduate visited Perth in December on a Athletes in Action tour is a 6”4 straight shooter who has the ability to take key defensive assignments which will give Coach Chalk some size and versatility at the 2 and 3 spots.
The Magic have retained their Australian contingent with captain Ben Caporn running the point as Andrew Bowman and Kane Thompson will play important roles in the back court while Tom Remmerswaal and Shaun Bennison will be required to match up against much bigger opposition.
The visitors have already played a couple of games narrowly going down to East Perth a fortnight ago and more recently faced Rockingham where 48 minutes couldn’t separate the two teams with the game completed at a 92 all draw so Sunday will be a good hit-out leading into next weekends SBL Pre Season Blitz which will see all 14 SBL clubs head to the Hills.
Likely Starters
- Brunner V Caporn
- Smith V Bowman
- Ford V Crevelone
- Majstrovich V Hunter
- Brown V Bennison
Comings and Goings
Suns:
In – Ashley McCormick (Head Coach), Trevor Sykes (Assistant Coach), Travis Lindstrom (Assistant Coach), Luke Ford (Lakeside), Justin Brown (QBL) , Kenny Brunner (AND1), Nebo Franich (Lakeside), Ed Hall (Perry Lakes)
Out - Craig Mansfield (WSBL Head Coach), Brett Kranz-Little (WSBL Assistant Coach), Wil O'Neal (Stirling), Justin Eckhart (Stirling), Corey Easley, David Fragomeni, Fletcher Creelman, Joseph Nixon, Matthew Cotte, Matthew Splatt (Lakeside), Neil Purcell, Ryan Kaminski, Sam Neville, Scott Ferguson, Terrance Stott, Tim Squire.
Magic
In – Max Hunter (USA), Casey Crevelone (USA), Nic Turner
Out – Aaron Trahair (Rockingham), Frank Fimmano, Jordan Hickert (NCAA), Ross Lowe
Article by Ryan Rogers (Kalamunda Eastern Suns
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