The injury-ravaged New Zealand Breakers have added much-needed firepower to their squad with Australian Boomer William McDowell-White signing for the club.
The addition of the Australian international comes at a perfect time with guard Corey Webster ruled out for four weeks, while import Lamar Patterson is still at least three weeks away and Robe Loe and assistant coach Chanel Pompallier have returned to New Zealand.
McDowell-White joins the Breakers after playing the past two seasons for the Houston Rockets in the NBA's feeder league but unfournteitely for the Breakers fans, the exciting guard is still in Los Angles.
He will leave the United States in the next 24 hours before completing two-weeks of quarantine and will then link up with his new teammates.
The 22-year-old joins the Kiwi outfit with an impressive resume. He represented Australian at the under-19 world cup and is currently in the Australian Boomers 23-man Tokyo Olympic squad.
The addition of the former Houston Rockets player is something head coach Dan Shamir is very happy to have.
"We are very happy to add Will McDowell-White," Shamir says. "He just finished his second season in the G-League and is in good shape.
"He’s a very capable player; all the components are there, he’s got size and good court vision.
"Will’s not replacing Corey, he’s someone who can step on the court straight away and eventually play alongside Corey and Tai (Webster) and Tom (Abercrombie) and the rest of our backcourt."
Shamir sympathises with Corey Webster, who has already come back from injury this season.
"Corey’s been a little bit unlucky this year," he says. "He looked like he was going to lead our team, and now there’s a little setback, but we are hopeful it’s not going to be too long, and he’ll be back on the court. "Obviously, it adds together with Lamar’s injury and the departure of Rob Loe, but we are in the process of solving those problems."
In another problem solver, former Adelaide 36ers Guard Jeremy Kendle will join the Breakers later on Saturday as temporary cover for Lamar Patterson while the All-Star works his way back to full fitness.
