Otago Strike Import Gold
Tagged in: Competitions, NBL
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The Cartridge World Otago Nuggets have captured the signature of one of the best shooters in American minor league basketball.
Jay Anderson (26) is a 2.06m (6ft 9in) forward with a feathery touch from the outside and a top-grade basketball pedigree.
He is the second import for the Nuggets, having inked American seven-footer Rahsaan Smith to a deal for the 2008 Dominion Finance NBL last week.
Anderson recently finished the International Basketball League (IBL) season in the USA with the Eugene Chargers, averaging 11 points and six rebounds this season.
In 2006, Anderson was named as an IBL All-Star after averaging 14.5 points and 6.6 rebounds with the Chargers. At the All-Star festivities, Anderson won the three-point shooting contest by draining 21 of 25 shots in the final round.
“Jay will bring leadership, intelligence and a high level of play to our team,” said Nuggets coach Don Sims.
“Jay is the Larry Bird, Dirk Nowitzki mold. He is a versatile player that can play many positions and an outstanding shooter. Jay will be a leader on the team and within the community.”
More recently, Anderson has made a name for himself in Europe. In the Romanian A League, the forward starred for BC Mures in 2007 by scoring 22 points and nabbing 6.3 rebounds per game. From 2004 to 2006, Anderson played for Sportbund Rosenheim where he twice finished runner-up for the league scoring title.
A native of Minnesota, Anderson’s career took off when he joined three current NBA players – Luke Ridnour, Luke Jackson and Aaron Brooks – at the University of Oregon in 2000. In three seasons with the Ducks, Anderson played a vital role for the succesful Oregon program.
Smith (30), a graduate of Fresno State University, has had a prodigious international basketball career, including trials for NBA franchises, the Los Angeles Lakers, Phoenix Suns and Portland Trail Blazers.
Statistically, Smith’s best season came in 2001 when he averaged 24.7 points, 13.5 rebounds and three blocks for Al-Itthad of the Saudi Arabia Professional Basketball League. His efforts for Al-Itthad earned both a most valuable player award and a Saudi Cup Championship.
Smith has had his basketball passport stamped in Germany (Bayer 04 Leverkusen), Belgium (Kon Basketball Club Gent), Argentina (Indipendiente, Quilmes), South Korea (Mobis Phoebus) and Mexico (Los Lobos Grises de UAD, Santos Reales).
The defensive stalwart is a familiar name in United States basketball circles as well. He logged substantial minutes in the American Basketball Association and the Continental Basketball Association, where he won the CBA title with the Yakima Sun Kings in 2000.
Smith is expected to anchor the Nuggets frontcourt and bring much needed toughness to their inside game. He is considered to be a defensive enforcer, productive rebounder and dependable scorer.
Anderson, Smith and the Nuggets kick off their quest for the NBL on March 2 when they host defending champion Blue Chip Nelson Giants at the Edgar Centre at 2 pm.
