THE Mount Gambier Pioneers have continued to push forward with their basketball program as the South Australian Premier League fast approaches, ready to tip off on March 2.
This week they announced the signing of American Kentrell Barkley to the club, who is sure to provide a strong presence at both ends of the floor.
Barkley is classed as a versatile wing and was a three-year starter with NCAA Division 1 College East Carolina, where he led the team in scoring and rebounding.
In the 2017-18 season with East Carolina Barkley averaged 12 points per game, 7.3 rebounds and 2.2 assists.
He shot at 54.3pc from the field and 28.8pc from three-point territory.
More recently Barkley has been with the Rio Grande Valley Vipers in the NBA G League where he was drafted in the first round.
Although only listed at 6-foot-5 in the old scale, Kentrell’s 6-foot-11 wingspan enables him to play as a wing or as he did in college in the four position using his length to be an outstanding and versatile defender.
Pioneers head coach Richard Hill said he was excited by the acquisition of Barkley.
“Kentrell fits perfectly for us, being able to play the two, three and four helps us cover some of the holes we have with the unfortunate loss of a number of players,” Richard Hill said.
Barkley will arrive in Australia in great shape and ready to start his Australian career in the first week of February.
“We have been searching for a player with Kentrell’s diverse skill set and I am very pleased that he has committed to our program,” Hill said.
