Stars align to give Buccs Kiwi talent
SUN City Plumbing Buccaneers have netted Perth Wildcats training squad player Everard Bartlett as a stand-in until American Michael Lay arrives.
The 26-year-old New Zealander signed a temporary contract to cover Lay, who will miss at least round one due to a relegation fight with German club Konstanz.
Bartlett has been a sparring partner for the Wildcats guards throughout the 2010/11 campaign.
He impressed Wildcats coach Rob Beveridge on his relocation to Perth from his home nation last year. This was after he helped the Hawke’s Bay Hawks reach the semi-finals of the 2010 New Zealand Basketball League.
Bartlett teamed up with Buccs captain Matt Wundenberg in the Western Tigers side at the Malaysian capital of Kuala Lumpur last October.
The two became good friends, prompting Buccs coach Ray Evans to inquire about adding the Kiwi to his 2011 list.
But the Buccs were knocked back because each SBL team is only allowed two non-Australian nationals.
With American Todd Brown on deck, Lay is the Buccs’ second import. But his hold up in Europe opened the door for Bartlett’s shortterm stint.
His arrival is a needed boost, as star centre Ben Pepper will also miss the round one road trip on March 19 and 20, due to a holiday.
Pepper, a former NBL teammate of Bartlett’s for the New Zealand Breakers, rated him an exciting pickup.
“He was always really strong, had great flair and could shoot the ball really well. I’m rapt he has decided to join us,” he said.
The Buccs open their campaign against Mandurah and Cockburn.
Bartlett said he didn’t need to think twice when Evans came knocking.
“I jumped at the opportunity. I wanted to be a part of the team,” he said.
Barlett’s Malaysian stint alongside Wundenberg was his last competitive hit-out on the hardwood.
The six foot five inch (195cm) player said training with the Wildcats had “increased the fire to get back on court”.
“You can only do so much training. You’ve got to put it into play,” he said. “There might be some cobwebs or there might not. All I can do is keep training hard and prepare myself.”
Article by Thomas Davis (Geraldton Guardian)
Photo by Geraldton Guardian (Geraldton Guardian)
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