NZ Breakers have signed three more players for their 2020/21 Australian NBL campaign, confirming Tall Blacks point guard Tai Webster to anchor their backcourt.
The Auckland-based franchise has also announced the arrivals of Aussies Dan Trist and Kyrin Galloway, as it fills out its roster against the backdrop of COVID-19 uncertainty.
At 2.04m (6ft 8in), Trist, 27, will back up Breakers skipper Tom Abercrombie at the small forward position, and previously played for Melbourne United and South East Melbourne Phoenix. He has also played professional in Denmark and the Spanish second division.
US-born Galloway also stands 2.04m and joins the club from University of North Carolina Greensboro, where he averaged 8.6 points and 4.1 rebounds in his senior year. He represented Australia at the 2019 World University Games, where they captured a bronze medal.
Since leaving University of Nebraska three years ago, Webster, 25, has played in Germany and Turkey, but returned to New Zealand during coronavirus shutdown, and trained alongside brother Corey and NZ international teammate at the Breakers' North Shore facility.
He began his career as a development player for the club in 2012/13, playing a cameo role in its third consecutive ANBL championship.
"It was awfully kind of the coaches even to let me come in every day and work out with them, so I was grateful for the opportunity," says Webster. "That was something they didn't have to do.
"There is a vast difference in the Breakers since I was last here. It's been a long time since I've been really involved in the club like this and you can definitely see it's come a long way.
"It's tough to come into an environment like this with guys I've played alongside before and grew up playing with for a long time, and see them working towards something and not wanting to be part of it."
With coronavirus threatening to disrupt the import player market, Breakers owner Matt Walsh has targeted Tall Blacks to form the core of the roster, targeting European-based Webster and forward Isaac Fotu.
Last week, Fotu confirmed a return to Italy with the Reyer Venezia club.
Webster's addition as a starting point guard means the Breakers can now turn their attention to re-signing American Scotty Hopson, who averaged 19.1 points and 4.6 assists last season.
"With all other teams likely to be importing their point guards, we've secured the best Kiwi point guard in the world whose international class is undeniable," says Walsh.
"With just two imports allowed this season, due to COVID, we will focus on getting Scotty's signature and a seven-foot centre."
Galloway signs on a three-year deal, the first as a development player.
With ANBL free agency opening on Wednesday, the Breakers' signings so far are the Websters, Abercrombie, Trist, Galloway, Rob Loe, Fin Delany, Jarrad Weeks and Terry Li.
