Recruit has NBL dreams
Goldfields Giants recruit Dwayne Radcliffe views his upcoming stint with the State Basketball League club as an important stepping stone in his long-term aspirations to hopefully one day play in the NBL.
Radcliffe, 20, arrived in the region from Tasmania last Thursday and immediately declared his desire to repay the faith shown by club officials in luring him west.
He joins the Giants for the upcoming campaign, which gets under way next month, after spending last season with the Hobart Chargers who made the play-offs.
The 203cm forward-centre’s resume also includes two years at the Australian Institute of Sport.
“I didn’t know what to expect (upon first arriving in the Goldfields), but have been pretty impressed with the level of competitiveness and professionalism (among the Giants’ squad), ” Radcliffe said.
“Hopefully I can eventually play in the NBL and at 20, I’m still young enough.
“It would be great to perform well in this competition with an eye on the next level, which obviously is the NBL.”
On his views on what he could bring to the team, Radcliffe said:
“I just think I can do what needs to be done – whether it be to set screens, pull in rebounds and hopefully help out with scoring. My idea is to get done what’s required in a situation and to be working hard all the time.
“But I don’t really feel any pressure (as a highly-touted recruit) and I have confidence in myself.
“I just feel I can come in and help the team out alongside the rest of the guys.
“I could probably be a little fitter, but my skills are all right and everyone on the squad has been very welcoming.”
Among Radcliffe’s greatest challenges since his arrival has been adapting to the Goldfields’ summer heat – a far cry to the mild temperatures he is accustomed to back home in Tasmania.
“I’ve actually been struggling with the heat, but the boys tell me it hasn’t even been that hot, ” he said.
“It was 36C or 37C when I arrived and I’m more used to 20C.
“But I’m sure I’ll get used to it.”
Radcliffe adds further strength to a Goldfields line-up which includes imports Darnell Dialls and Matt Rosinski, Australian centre Gary Street and forward Lordan Franich, who was re-signed after an impressive 2010 debut with the club.
The Giants open the season proper in Perth against the Kalamunda Eastern Suns on Saturday, March 19.
Article by Neale Harvey (Kalgoorlie Miner)
Photo by Travis Anderson(Andmedia)
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