Giants boosted by second import

Goldfields Giants coach Matt Van Pelt’s extensive search for a second US import officially ended on Thursday with the acquisition of 203cm centre Ethan Henderson for the 2024 NBL1 season that opens in April.

Van Pelt said that he assessed potential recruits for three months before settling on Henderson.

“I am very excited about this signing — we like him a lot,” Van Pelt said.

“He brings a lot of energy, he’s a guy that can fly around the court and he is very mobile for a big guy — he can really run the floor.

“He’ll really help us play fast because sometimes if you get a slow big (man), they can slow down your transition, but he’s not that way.

“He can really sprint the floor and run end to end. He can block shots, he can dunk everything near the rim. He’s a guy that will screen and roll hard and he’ll do the little things — that dirty work — and he can really hedge ball screens as well defensively.”

Van Pelt said Henderson would arrive in Kalgoorlie-Boulder in March with big expectations.

“I spoke to his college coaches at Texas A&M — which is as high as college basketball level as you can play at — and they told me that they felt like he could guard one through five, he could guard every position in NCAA division one just with his athleticism defensively,” he said.

“We’re excited about what he brings and he’s a good guy with a good personality so we think he’ll fit in.”

Henderson, 24, from Little Rock, Arkansas, was rated as the top player from his State who played three seasons at the University of Arkansas.

“I will bring energy and positivity to the team and I am a good citizen off the court, too,” Henderson said.

“Coming across to Australia to play in NBL1 West I expect to have high-level players in the league.

“I feel blessed to have an opportunity to play professionally — not everyone gets to do this.”

The Giants open the season on April 6 in Perth against the Lakeside Lightning.