The Brisbane Bullets been able to bring St Mary’s Gael’s graduate Tanner Krebs home after securing him to a two-year deal.

The sweet-shooting guard returned to Tasmania in May after the COVID-19 pandemic brought a premature end to his successful American college stint with Saint Mary’s.

Krebs was initially hoping to secure an NBA Summer League gig but flew back to Hobart during the initial stages of the pandemic and decided starting his career in the NBL was the best place to start his professional career.

The former AIS product, who represented Australia at the World University Games in 2017, was close to signing with Melbourne United but when Brisbane released Australian Boomer Cameron Gliddon an increased opportunity of playing time sealed the deal.

“The reason I chose Brisbane was because I like the organisation and I like the people in charge.

“I have a really good relationship with Drej, I have known him since I was at the AIS. We have built a relationship over the years, so I felt comfortable going into the team with him coaching. I felt like Brisbane gave me the best opportunity to play and have an impact immediately” Krebs said.

Krebs father Dan was a star import who played for the Hobart Devils in 1990 averaging more than 25 points, a dozen rebounds and two steals a game. A miscommunication led to him thinking he was being replaced so he left the team, playing one game with the Southern Melbourne Saints before the remainder of his career in Iceland before returning to Tasmania.

In his cameo with South Melbourne, he teamed with a young Andrej Lemanis and its this connection that helped seal the deal.

“I have always been a fan of Tanner’s game ever since I worked with him at the Basketball Australia Centre of Excellence.

“It’s been a pleasure following his growth at Saint Mary’s and I’m pleased that he has chosen to start his professional career with us.” Lemanis said.

The 24-year-old started in all 33 games he played for Saint Mary’s in the 2019/20 season, averaging 30.1 minutes per game and scoring 9.1 points per game, the third-highest on the team. He leaves the Gaels tied for second on the school’s all-time games played list (135) and fifth on the school’s all-time three-pointers made list (198).

“When I left [in 2016] the NBL wasn’t as attractive I guess but being over in college and watching the league develop and grow, every year it gets a bit more attractive and by the end I was like ‘I want to go play NBL, it looks awesome’. said Krebs.

Krebs also played for Australia at the 2015 FIBA U19 World Championships, 2014 FIBA U19 Oceania Championships and the 2013 FIBA Oceania Pacific U18 Championships.

Brisbane’s roster for the coming season now includes Jason Cadee, Nathan Sobey, Tyrell Harrison, Will Magnay and Anthony Drmic and the team are expected to announce Harry Froling has signed this week.