Kiwi Recruit To Bolster Hawks' Back Division

Illawarra Mercury

Thursday May 17, 2007

By TIM KEEBLE

THEY remain light on forwards, but the Wollongong Hawks believe they will boast one of the NBL's deepest backcourt units in the 2007-08 season.

New Zealand Tall Blacks guard Lindsay Tait was confirmed as Wollongong's fifth off-season recruit on Tuesday, rounding out a backcourt which includes starters Kavossy Franklin and Mat Campbell, back-up Jeremy Kench and guard-forwards Ben Castle and Jon Philip.

Playing alongside former Hawks forward Casey Frank and Brisbane's Dillon Boucher, Tait has been on fire for the Auckland Stars in the New Zealand national league lately.

He captured three straight Player of the Week awards after averaging 35 points, eight assists and 2.7 steals over three games and his team are on top of the table with a 9-2 record.

Despite having little impact in his first four seasons in Australia, Tait's game has reportedly blossomed over the past 18 months after a season in Europe.

Hawks coach Eric Cooks is confident the 25-year-old playmaker, who signed a three-year deal with the club, will turn heads in his NBL comeback.

"I'm happy to welcome Lindsay to the club. He has been one of our key targets this off-season and he'll be a major contributor this season and into the future," Cooks said.

"Tait is the final piece to what I see being a very strong guard rotation. He has the ability to play point guard or shooting guard positions, can knock down the open shot, he's quick to the basket and brings a high level of maturity at a young age."

Tait broke into the NBL with the Victoria Giants in 2003 before spending the next three seasons with the New Zealand Breakers.

He took advantage of his British passport to play in Switzerland last year and is looking forward to mixing it with Australia's best players on a weekly basis.

"I'm excited about coming to Wollongong and it's great to be back in the NBL," Tait said.

"I've worked hard and I'm ready to prove what I can do and that I can play at a high level."

Tait is an accomplished player in his homeland, being named in the all-star top five for four straight seasons.

He won titles in 2004 and 2005 and was named league MVP in 2005.

"The opportunity to play for one of the NBL foundation teams is great," Tait said.

"I've heard so much about the fans and their support of the club. Eric Cooks has this team moving in a positive direction and I wanted to be a part of that."

The Hawks have two roster spots open, both in the front-court. One will be filled by an import and the other by a home-grown forward-centre.