The Sydney Kings have rounded out their 10 man roster with the signing of New Zealand forward Dion Prewster.
Prewster was introduced to Australian hoops fans as a result of being a last minute call up to replace an unavailable Duane Bailey during the recent FIBA Oceania series against Australia. However with his stat line including nothing but zero’s in the 29 seconds of playing time he received in game 2, it would make sense if Prewster is still relatively unknown to most Kings fans.
Prewster was born in Santa Ana, California, enjoyed a childhood in Hawaii and then moved to Wellington, New Zealand at age 7.
Prewster has played for the Wellington Saints, Southland Sharks and Hawkes Bay Hawkes since he debuted in the NZ NBL in 2011. In 2015 he had a career year averaging 14.3 points, 4.3 and 2.0 assists per game for the Wellington Saints.
Prewster is renowned offensively for his ability to attack the basket, however it is his defence that he’s most valued for. Overall Prewster plays physically, both offensively and defensively. Prewster will play limited minutes behind super star Josh Childress where he’ll be expected to bring energy and physicality.
This won’t be the first time that Dion Prewster has played in the NBL, during the 2011/12 season Prewster played as a development player for the NZ Breakers, where he averaged one point per game. Prewster also won a championship with the Breakers in the same season which is where Prewster can help the club even more. With his knowledge and experience of winning a championship he can help the team in that aspect too.
In what is considered to be an upgrade on the 10th roster spot (last season it was filled by Daniel Joyce and Kevin White) the Kings look set to unveil a squad capable of finishing the season with a winning record for the first time since the re-entered the league in 2009.
Dion Prewster joined his team mates today in the Kings first day of official practice. Also joining him is Celtics Draftee Marcus Thornton, who will go to his first day of training too. The Sydney Kings are now only waiting for their super star import Josh Childress to return to Sydney.
Current Sydney Kings Lineup
PG: Markovic/Cadee
SG: Thornton/Carter
SF: Childress/Prewster
PF: Garlepp/Hill
C: Khazzouh/Brandt
Editors Note:
Despite the Tall Blacks losing the Oceania series it seems to have led to a number of players have benefited with the Australian screen time as the Kings and Perth Wildcats signed up New Zealand point guard Jarrod Kenny once the series was completed also.
NBL journeyman Everard Bartlett is also rumoured to be on a number of teams wish lists as they attempt to fill their last roster spots.