PERTH Wildcats have signed Australian guard Dexter Kernich-Drew on a two-year deal, becoming the club’s third new addition to its 2016-17 roster.
Born in Melbourne, Kernich-Drew played college basketball at Washington State University (WSU).
The sharp-shooter said he was excited to put pen to paper with the Wildcats.
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READ NOW“I’m so pleased to earn a position in this program,” he said.
“I consider myself a bit of a defensive guy and a knock-down shooter. I’m the kind of player who gives his all, who can get involved with the nitty-gritty for the guys.”
In his senior year at WSU, Kernich-Drew averaged 6.3 points, 0.8 assists and 1.7 rebounds per game and ranked sixth in the Pac-12 conference with an impressive three-point clip of 43 per cent.
After graduating in 2015, he spent time playing in Brazil as well as two significant stints training with the 2015-16 Perth Wildcats squad.
Wildcats coaches believe his familiarity with the team’s system is a bonus.
“We see a lot of potential for Dexter to become a really good NBL player,” Wildcats assistant coach Jamie O’Loughlin said.
“He’s a guy who can provide a shooting option and stretch the floor. He’s long, he’s athletic, he’s great in transition. Hopefully he can bring a lot of high-pace and speed to our game.
“Defensively, he can disrupt, get in passing lanes, take the ball off the glass and initiate fast breaks. He should bring a lot of excitement to our team.”
The 24-year-old stands at 201cm and weighs 87kg, and joins Damian Martin, Greg Hire, Jesse Wagstaff, Matt Knight, Jarrod Kenny, Casey Prather, Angus Brandt and Jaron Johnson on the 2016-17 roster.