MATTHEW Adekponya remembers going to a Taipans' after-game function as a nine-year-old and shaking Aaron Grabau's hand.

Now the 21-year-old is Grabau’s teammate, training with him almost every day.

It is a "sweet gig", he said, and one that he gets to share with fellow Cairns products James Mitchell and Billy Comino – as well as Rockhampton’s Mitch Philp – as development players for the season.

Officially Comino is not on the list, because he is just too old to be included as a development player, but he still trains with the squad like the rest of them and will be better for it when the QBL rolls around next year.

Not only is the dreadlocked Adekponya sharing the court with Australian veterans such as Grabau, but he also gets to pick the brains of imports that have played basketball the world over.

This year it’s Jamar Wilson, who has one of the longer resumes in the league and last season it was another American Ron Dorsey, who had come straight from France.

"It’s a great opportunity for us," Adekponya said.

"You always learn so much and the guys are always really great with us."

"This year especially – it’s not like they are too cool to talk to us, they ask about our study and talk about injury and diets and things.

‘‘They are really helpful to us."

Mitchell was part of the squad last year and saw court time in some home games to the delight of his family and friends in the crowd.

Philp, who has spent the past two seasons playing college basketball in California, was a late entry to the squad but was also loving the buzz of the NBL.

Whether or not any of the trio get court time this season is not guaranteed, but they said just being around the group and taking part in pre-game warm-ups was benefit enough.

"We’re pretty lucky, no doubt about it," Adekponya said. ‘‘A lot of people would die to have a chance to be doing this.’’

After a break in last week’s round, the Taipans are back in action on Friday night at home to Wollongong.