Cairns Taipans add Daniel Dillon

The Skytrans Cairns Taipans roster continues to build with the signing of Daniel Dillon for the 2009-10 National Basketball League season.

Dillon, who at 194cm can play the shooting guard/small forward positions, offers plenty of versatility at both ends of the floor.

Touted as a defensive stopper early in his career, which included stints with the powerhouse American college team Arizona and as a development player with the 2008 NBL champion South Dragons, Dillon showed at the recent High Stakes Hoops classic in Adelaide that he also has plenty in his offensive arsenal.

The 24-year-old has deadly range on his shot but can also utilise his speed to get to the basket, while his outstanding defensive capabilities are particularly exciting given the Skytrans Taipans already have one of the best defensive stoppers in the NBL in Aaron Grabau.
Skytrans Taipans coach Aaron Fearne, who watched Dillon play at the HSH tournament, liked what he saw.

“Daniel brings a very well rounded game to the Taipans with his ability to flat out defend as well as provide a scoring punch in a number of different ways. ” Fearne said

“With high level Pac 10 experience, Daniel has definitely improved at the offensive end of the floor” said Fearne.

Dillon averaged 19.8 points and 7.3 rebounds for the Sandringham Sabres in the SEABL South Conference last year, in the process being named the conference Australian youth player of the year.

The Sabres are currently leading the South conference this season with an 11-3 record, Dillon averaging 18.3 points, 5.8 rebounds and 3.1 assists an outing.

With his signing, the Taipans roster is nearing completion. He joins captain Phill Jones, new recruits Ayinde Ubaka and Alex Loughton, and returning players Ian Crosswhite, Dusty Rychart, Kerry Williams and Grabau.