Taipans' boom recruit
NATIONAL coach Brett Brown says the Taipans have made the ''pick up of the year'' in signing Boomers squad member Alex Loughton.
Incoming forward Loughton, who has returned to the NBL after a stint in Spain, is currently in camp with the Boomers on the Gold Coast vying for a place in Australia’s world championship team.
He made a good impression on Brown in Australia’s recent three-game series against Argentina, with the coach rating him a mature, hard-working presence.
In a squad dominated by overseas-based players, Loughton has shown enough to suggest he will be a shining light in his NBL return.
"You guys got a good player there," Brown said of the 206cm Loughton.
"Full credit to Aaron Fearne and his staff for reaching out to him. I think that’s the pick-up of the year."
Loughton had kept in touch with Taipans assistant coach Mick Downer, a former assistant at the Perth Wildcats where Loughton made his NBL debut in the 2008 season.
Knowing the forward wanted to head back to Australia to raise his young family – his wife Michelle is expecting their second child in early September, a sibling for two-year-old Georgia – Downer helped lure Loughton to Cairns.
"In particular with Cairns, they needed certain positions filled and I thought they’d be a good fit for the situation," Loughton said of linking with the Taipans. "I’m looking forward to re-establishing myself back in the league, hopefully I’ll be able to contribute to the Taipans and give it my best."
Loughton finished second in Rookie of the Year voting in the 2008 season behind former Snake Nathan Jawai, the man he played alongside in the Boomers’ recent campaign against Argentina.
Impending fatherhood and a cloud over his NBA future has forced Jawai out of Australia’s world championship campaign, opening the door a crack for Loughton and another former Cairns product Aron Baynes, who recently signed a two-year contract with German Eurocup club EWE Baskets Oldenburg.
Brown praised Loughton’s maturity and teamwork and said Taipans fans should be looking forward to such a high-calibre player heading their way.
"The city of Cairns should be very excited to have him coming into the Taipans program," Brown said.
Loughton’s arrival in Cairns will depend on whether he makes the final cut for the world championship side.
"There’s positives each way," Loughton said. "If I get cut from the Boomers, I get to Cairns early.
"If not, I’m doing well with the national team and that’s always a good experience to bring back to the Taipans."
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Star recruit: Boomer and former Perth Wildcat Alex Loughton is a great pick-up for the Taipans, according to Australian coach Brett Brown.
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