FINALLY Cam Gliddon will get a chance to work on his tan. For five years he has chased winter, studying and playing at Concordia University in California, before hetting home to Perth to see his family.

"The Perth winter is not too much fun, I don't know why I didn't stay in California to see what their summer was all about," he said.

But he has no reason to regret that now; able to call Cairns home after signing with the Taipans at the beginning of May.
And while spending time at the beach is something he plans on doing, the shooting guard is also aware of the opportunity that lies ahead on court next season.

The 22-year-old starred for his Concordia Eagles side on the way to winning the NAIA division one national championship.
"That was only the school's second title; it was a pretty big deal," he said.

"We don't have an American football team, so we were the biggest team going and we were only a school of about 5000 so it was a great moment."

He graduated from Concordia as the all-time leading three point shooter and showed just how good he was while playing for the Australian University Games team last year.

That side was coached by Taipans' assistant coach Mick Downer.

"I knew him already from Perth but talked to him again there," Downer said.

"It was good to have that connection. But at the end of the day we have to put an offer on the table he likes; he didn't come here just because of that uni games connection."

Gliddon said it was a combination of things that brought him to Queensland, and acknowledged that the Wildcats were annoyed not to get their man.

"Yeah, Perth weren't too happy I didn't go there and probably aren't too happy with Mick," he laughed.

"But I respect the coaches, the organisation (at the Taipans). I'm a country boy at heart, I like the small town feel and this is the perfect place to keep developing."

Gliddon and his coaching staff expect him to do a lot more than just warm the bench, with a starting five spot a distant lure.

He will get his first chance to impress when he lines up for the Marlins against Bundaberg at the Bendigo Bank Basketball Centre on Saturday night.

I am a bit crook at the moment but I want to play, and I'll be playing with the Marlins until Taipans duties fully kick in," he said.

"It'll be a good way to stay in shape and I know that (coach Aaron) Fearney is keen to give me a good run for the Taipans, so I have to be ready for that."

The Marlins play the Bundaberg Bulls in round four of the Queensland Basketball League at 8pm on Saturday.

The Cairns Dolphins play before them at 6pm.

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