Torrey tipped for NBA
Rollers resigned to star winning American deal
THE Gold Coast Rollers are resigned to losing their American import Torrey Craig for good as he chases a contract with an NBA franchise.
After again starring for the Rollers in their troppo torture test last weekend against Townsville and Cairns, Craig headed off to the USA for the NBA Summer Camp where he will trial with the Denver Nuggets.
And indications are that Craig may not be back in Australia again despite having a year left on his contract with the Brisbane Bullets in the NBL.
“He has gone for a fortnight but before he left he told me he is taking all his stuff with him,” Gold Coast Basketball chief Joel McInnes said.
“He said his agent had told him there is every chance that he’ll get picked up.
“And the way he has been playing that is pretty likely.
“It’d be fantastic for him if it happens and we can’t stop him doing it.”
McInnes said rules would prevent the Rollers from having him on their playing roster if he is released overseas.
“It looks like we’ll have to
go searching for another import if he gets a gig in the NBA,” McInnes said.
It would be a big blow for the Rollers with Craig currently the Queensland Basketball League’s top scorer (28.2 points per game) and last year’s Brisbane most valuable player.
While the Rollers are on the verge of losing one American star they have gained another with the arrival of college graduate Ashli Payne to boost the women’s roster.
Payne, who turns 22 later this month, arrived in Australia only on Wednesday then was back in the air for the Rollers away double against Townsville and Cairns.
Payne is a graduate of the Eastern Washington University program.
The Rollers women lost both of their weekend games, going down 98-69 to Townsville on Friday night, then by 72-68 to Cairns the following evening.
Payne had an immediate impact in the white And green singlet, scoring 23 points against the Townsville women.
Against the Cairns Marlins Payne was less doiminant with only 11 points.
The men pulled off a shock result with an 80-78 victory against Townsville when veteran Adam Darragh pulled off a jump shot with one second remaining on the clock.
The following night the Rollers men went down 99-85 to the Cairns Marlins.
Craig went for 21 points against Townsville, while Dwayne Vale also scored 21.
In Cairns Craig had 32 points and eight rebounds.