Unfortunateley Adelaide 36ers and NBL fans will never get to find out how good Kenyon McNeaill could have been.
After a strong pre-season he injured himself participating in the dunk contest at the NBL Blitz. Editors Note: Rolan Roberts anyone? As a result was hampered in his first 3 games for the 36ers and now after the injury was going to keep him out for weeks the decision has been made to replace him.
Hopefully Kenyon makes a full recovery soon and is able to find a spot on another team, potentially even within the NBL some day. The tough life of an import.
The positive note for 36ers fans is the club is said to have secured Jerome Randle to replace him and are working hard to have him cleared in time for this weeks games, where he will be much needed.
Jerome Randle is a 28 year old , 5’10 scoring point guard who appears to be very quick, with great handles, can get to the rim and has put up good shooting numbers from 3 point land througout his career. In short he is just what the 36ers needed to replace McNeaill. He has many of the similar traits to McNeaill and Gary Ervin, if he can play as well as Ervin did with the 36ers a couple of seasons ago, the 36ers will be tough to beat and fun to watch for the fans as well.
Randle played his college career at California where he averaged 18 points, 4 assists and shot 40% from 3 point range. He has since had a short contract in the NBA with the Dallas Mavericks, played various NBA Summerleague stints, and more recently played in Turkey and represented the Ukraine at the 2015 Eurobasket. where he averaged 13 points and 4 assists.
These are stronger credentials on paper than Kenyon McNeaill came with so 36ers fans will be hoping he can be even better, and McNeaill was looking the goods at the Blitz.
If Randle can average something around the 20 points at a good shooting clip, including from 3 point range. and combine well with Daniel Johnson, i think the 36ers will have a strong chance at competing in playoff action.
In 2013-14 when Johnson and Ervin scored around 20 points each the 36ers hardly lost, with most of our Aussie talent not suited to be major scorers and Ebi Ere yet to hit consistent form, it will be important Randle provides some good scoring punch.
I believe 36ers fans can be confident Randle will be a good fit for Joeys fast paced team, who brings the scoring punch and 3 point shooting the team badly needs.
Welcome to the NBL Jerome, all 36ers and the fans look forward to seeing you play.
A Hoops Tragic from Adelaide Check out some more of my thoughts and some basketball links on https://www.facebook.com/TalkingHoops365
