CAIRNS Taipans have announced their first recruit of the 2012 offseason - Cameron Gliddon from Concodia University in the USA.

The team sent out a press release this afternoon saying Gliddon, who is not an import because he was born in Western Australia, would be joining the team on a multi-year deal.

According to the press release Gliddon was the school’s all-time leader in three pointers, a team player of the year and a First Team All-American playing out of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletes (NAIA).

Gliddon worked with the team last preseason and played for assistant coach Mick Downer at the World University Games in China, coach Aaron Fearne said in the release.

A YouTube video shot at the NAIA National Tournament, where Gliddon won the Chuck Taylor Award for the tournament’s best player, gives Taipan fans some idea of Gliddon’s potential.

 “He really impressed me with his ability to shoot the ball consistently from depth and his overall smarts on the court,” the release quoted Fearne as saying.

“The fact he had such a fantastic senior year with the (Concordia) Eagles proves to us that he can handle the big stage and is ready to be a contracted as a full time NBL player.”

In the release, Gliddon heaped praise on the organisation and his new coach, who he is calling “Fearney.”

“Fearney and Mick (Downer) were welcoming when I was in Cairns during the pre-season,” Gliddon was quoted as saying.

“They spoke to me and encouraged me to make a decision after I finished college that was going to be best for my personal development and for me to become the best player I can be... and I truly believe being a Cairns Taipans is the best situation I can be in.”

Bio:

College: Concordia Eagles (NAIA Div 1)

Height: 6’5

Weight: 86kgs

Position: SG

Hometown: Bunbury, WA

Share this article