Cairns Taipans sign Thunder draftee Devon Hall
Hall was selected with the 53rd overall pick in the 2018 NBA Dradft
The CQUniversity Cairns Taipans have signed shooting guard DEVON HALL for their 2018-19 season. Hall was selected by the Oklahoma City Thunder in Round 2 of the 2018 NBA Draft, and played five games at the 2018 NBA Summer League.
To the credit of brand new Head Coach Mike Kelly, and longstanding CEO Mark Beecroft, the NBA’s 53rd pick has committed to Cairns with a view to further develop his game as a professional athlete, and gain international basketball experience.
This is the first time in Australian sports history that a regional NBL team has acquired a player following the NBA Draft - with only Perth, Melbourne and Sydney attracting draftees previously.
Taipans CEO Mark Beecroft said:
“It’s been great working with Mike and building the Taipans roster this off-season. While he is a new Head Coach in our league, he has an outstanding reputation internationally which has now been demonstrated with the acquisition of Devon Hall.”
“We couldn’t be happier with the roster that he has put together, and I know he will create a culture that the entire team, including Devon, will thrive in and be successful this upcoming season.”
Pre-Draft, the 23-year old spent five years at the University of Virginia under Tony Bennett, who is widely regarded as the best defensive college coach in the United States.
As a senior, Hall averaged 11.7 points, 4.2 rebounds and 3.1 assists, shooting at 44.3 per cent from three for the Cavaliers, on a team that won the ACC regular season (30-2 record) and the number one overall seed in the 2018 NCAA tournament.
Taipans Head Coach Mike Kelly said:
“When we were looking to complete our team with a perimeter guy, we wanted someone who could shoot, defend and create. Devon has shown in his time with Virginia, and in the Summer League, that he can do all these things at a very high level.”
“Sometimes as a coach, you have to trade-off shooting accuracy for the ability to defend, or get to the basket. But with Devon, we won’t have to do that - he shoots at 43 per cent from three. No trade-offs with him.”
“I’ve found him to be confident, but at the same time very humble, and hardworking. He has worked very hard to go from being an impressive college player, to an NBA Draft Pick. There is a long way between those two points.”
To the credit of brand new Head Coach Mike Kelly, and longstanding CEO Mark Beecroft, the NBA’s 53rd pick has committed to Cairns with a view to further develop his game as a professional athlete, and gain international basketball experience.
This is the first time in Australian sports history that a regional NBL team has acquired a player following the NBA Draft - with only Perth, Melbourne and Sydney attracting draftees previously.
Taipans CEO Mark Beecroft said:
“It’s been great working with Mike and building the Taipans roster this off-season. While he is a new Head Coach in our league, he has an outstanding reputation internationally which has now been demonstrated with the acquisition of Devon Hall.”
“We couldn’t be happier with the roster that he has put together, and I know he will create a culture that the entire team, including Devon, will thrive in and be successful this upcoming season.”
Pre-Draft, the 23-year old spent five years at the University of Virginia under Tony Bennett, who is widely regarded as the best defensive college coach in the United States.
As a senior, Hall averaged 11.7 points, 4.2 rebounds and 3.1 assists, shooting at 44.3 per cent from three for the Cavaliers, on a team that won the ACC regular season (30-2 record) and the number one overall seed in the 2018 NCAA tournament.
Taipans Head Coach Mike Kelly said:
“When we were looking to complete our team with a perimeter guy, we wanted someone who could shoot, defend and create. Devon has shown in his time with Virginia, and in the Summer League, that he can do all these things at a very high level.”
“Sometimes as a coach, you have to trade-off shooting accuracy for the ability to defend, or get to the basket. But with Devon, we won’t have to do that - he shoots at 43 per cent from three. No trade-offs with him.”
“I’ve found him to be confident, but at the same time very humble, and hardworking. He has worked very hard to go from being an impressive college player, to an NBA Draft Pick. There is a long way between those two points.”
E. Carchia
@Sportando
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