Ayre apparent signs for the Marlins
THE hottest hand in Cairns will be sticking around a while longer after lighting up the NBL in an exciting cameo for the Taipans.
Ben Ayre’s rise from training partner to a top spot at the Snakes has resulted in the 26year-old signing for the Cairns Marlins for the NBL1 season.
The point guard has been with the team during training sessions for most of the season, but made his way into the starting five after superstar Scott Machado went down with a heel injury.
“You can definitely see that Ben has something about him,” said Marlins head coach and Taipans assistant coach Kerry Williams. “He was just waiting for his opportunity and that’s why the Taipans kept him around as a training player.
“We’ve seen him put in the work – first in the gym, last to leave.”
Ayre has quite a bit in common with his point guard predecessor – both he and Machado are the only players in Taipans history to have 20 points and 10 assists in a game.
The young gun has spent time in the NBL1 with the Knox Raiders in Victoria, with fellow Taipan Bul Kuol, as well as time with the Nunawading Spectres and Bendigo Braves.
“Ben really clicked with Tahjere McCall this year; they are cut from the same cloth in their ambition to win,” Williams said.
Many wheels have yet to turn in the NBL off-season, but by signing with the Marlins, there will be plenty of hope that’s a step towards keeping Ayre in orange for NBL23.
Taipans head coach Adam Forde said this week: “There’s going to be a lot that happens between now and then. One thing I’m confident in is I never made impulse decisions.
“When it comes to recruiting, I like a larger sample size. We’ve seen what he (Ayre) can do on the training floor and we’ve seen him transfer that as a player.
“I’m glad he’s trending in the direction I thought he would.”
The NBL1 North season will get under way for both the Dolphins and Marlins on April 30.