Basketball New Zealand

Gold Coast Blaze signing Pero Cameron (Photosport)

Gold Coast Blaze coach Joey Wright says he’ll be looking at the club’s latest player signing to bring his leadership skills to the table this year – on and off the court.

Genial Kiwi and Blaze establishment player, Pero Cameron (35), committed to his third straight stint at the Gold Coast basketball club.

The 1.98m forward, who began playing at the elite level and won the New Zealand NBL Rookie of the Year in 1992, is the Coast’s most experienced player so far signed.

The one-time New Zealand Breaker (2003-2004) is also a former captain of the New Zealand Tall Blacks men’s national team, is a seven-time New Zealand NBL championship winner, a seven-time New Zealand All-Star Team member, a Sydney 2000 Olympian and the winner of five New Zealand MVP awards.

He also competed at the 2002 World Championship at Indianapolis in the United States and is the quintessential basketball journeyman having played professionally in the United Kingdom, Malaysia, Turkey and Iran.

“Pero has already shown the world he has the talent, size and experience to dominate games and we’ll aim to get that from him once again in a Blaze uniform this year,” Wright said.

“We’ll be looking to him to lend his leadership skills to the younger players and contribute in no small way to the mix of youth and experience that we are developing and which is inherent in all successful professional sporting outfits,” he said.

Blaze Chief Executive Dave Claxton said fans can look forward to plenty of three-point action from Cameron.

“Pero’s physical strength and passing ability around the basket makes him a difficult opponent along with his skill from the three point line,” Claxton said.

“Who can forget his enormous home game three-point shot last December against the Cairns Taipans with a second left on the clock to send the game into overtime?

“He’s nicknamed ‘The Rock’ for good reason – he’s certainly an exciting player and the fans think he’s terrific,” he said.

Earlier this week, the Blaze announced their first four confirmed players for season 2009/10.

Australian Boomers and former South Dragons player Adam Gibson will head to the Coast in about three weeks after a superb 2008/09 season that saw him help his team to the NBL championship and be named the league’s Best Defensive Player.

He’ll join Blaze young gun Tyson Demos and towering centre Greg Vanderjagt who will line up for their second seasons on the Gold Coast alongside former Perth Wildcats guard Chris Goulding.