Sharp-shooter Snake
Reigning NBL sixth man of the year Phill Jones will bring his remarkable sharp-shooting skills to the Cairns Taipans next season.
Jones is likely to be the Taipans’ starting shooting guard after playing a support role at the New Zealand Breakers for league MVP Kirk Penney last season.
The 35-year-old Tall Blacks Olympian will add a wealth of experience to the Taipans, having spent most of his career playing in Europe.
Last season he averaged 14.7 points a game for the Breakers, as well as 3.6 rebounds and 1.4 assists.
Jones is a big threat from beyond the three-point line, hitting 42 per cent in the NBL last season.
Taipans general manager Mark Beecroft last night said Jones would get more opportunities to showcase his skills in the 2009-10 season.
"He was coming off the bench with the Breakers and he was playing behind Kirk Penney who was named as MVP for the NBL so there’s an opportunity for him here to come in and have an impact and take a veteran’s role in the group," Beecroft said.
"He shoots the ball very well and handles the ball well and he’s one of those players over the years when he gets going we’ve had difficulty defending."
Beecroft said it was one of the community-owned club’s most important player signings.
"We’re putting together a blend of guys with youth, players nearing their potential and veteran players.
"He brings a lot of experience with his Tall Blacks experience, his overseas experience and he was recently named the New Zealand national league MVP."
Jones averaged 23.1 points for the Nelson Giants this season and shot an amazing 50 per cent from beyond the three-point arc.
Jones is the second player the Taipans have officially announced after foundation player Aaron Grabau was unveiled as the club’s first signing on Tuesday.
Guard Kerry Williams, centre Ian Crosswhite and forward Dusty Rychart are also set to play for the Taipans next season.
Beecroft said more player announcements would be made soon but the club would not sign an import until all their Australian players were secured.
"Our import position or positions will be last one that we sign," he said.
"As a priority we are looking at local and Australian content."
Jones is set to arrive in Cairns on July 18 to start pre-season training.
The Taipans play New Zealand in the first match of the season on September 24.
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