Giants Reay Of Hope
Tagged in: Competitions, NBL
The CPS Nelson Giants added a third Tall Black to their mix on Wednesday.
With current Tall Blacks Phill Jones and Michael Fitchett on their roster, the Giants (7-4) added former national teamer Christopher Reay, while releasing New Zealand-born Aussie Rowan Gray, ahead of their round 11 Dominion Finance NBL City of Sails road double-header, starting tonight.
Reay, a 2.05m power forward/centre, made his Tall Blacks debut as a 19-year-old in 2004 against Australia, but has since concentrated on his college career in his native Texas.
The 23-year-old, who qualifies for New Zealand through his Kiwi parents, will be available for the Giants for the remainder of the regular season – starting with tonight’s game against the Youthtown Auckland Stars – but will not be available for the playoffs, as a marriage date looms.
“Chris is getting married at the time of the finals and those dates are fixed but we have him for half the season and he’s coming with one eye on the future,” said Giants coach Chris Tupu.
“He’s a big body, a banger, coachable and intelligent.
“He’s never played in the NBL before so no one is exactly sure what he will bring but he’s here this week in time for our road double-header, so we will find out soon enough.”
Reay started his college career at NCAA division one Southern Methodist University (SMU), averaging 1.2 points and 1.3 rebounds in 8.3 minutes per game in 22 games as a freshman, before transferring to NCAA division two Midwestern State University.
He played in only five games his sophomore year before averaging 6.9 points (54.7% FG, 65.3% FT), 5.9 rebounds, 1.0 blocks and 26 minutes in 31 games his junior season, and 7.0 points (45.2% FG, 65.9% FT), 6.1 rebounds, 1.0 blocks and 24 minutes in 26 games his just-completed senior year.
Gray, who had spent the last Australian NBL season as a development player with the Gold Coast Blaze, leaves Nelson averaging 6.6 points (57.9% FG, 50.0% 3pt, 35.3% FT) and 4.0 rebounds in 11 games, mostly as sixth man.
“Rowan’s admitted that he has struggled with our system and never felt that comfortable with the way we run our stuff,” Tupu said.
“But you can’t change for one player and I just don’t think it was ever going to be an easy fit for the Giants or for Rowan.
“It’s a style of play that’s new to him and, if we are all honest, it hasn’t worked as well as we’d hoped.”
