Basketball: Slammers get Freer

The South West Slammers have agreed to terms with an exciting US import for next year.

American swingman Nick Freer will join the Slammers for season 2011 in a significant coup for the struggling Bunbury club.

Freer, 25, was earlier this year named as the Waratah League MVP while playing for Hunter in NSW and has four years of college experience.

He has also previously played in Darwin.

Currently playing with German side Salzkotten, Freer spoke to the South Western Times from his base in Paderborn and said he was looking forward to returning to Australia.

‘‘Everyone I talked to said that you have to get out to Western Australia,’’ he said.

‘‘I spent a little bit of time in Melbourne, I spent a little bit of time in Queensland.

‘‘I’m pretty excited to see out there.’’

Standing at 199cm, Freer has an incredible leap and is likely to add significant rebounding depth to the Slammers — an area where they fell down in 2010.

‘‘I have fun, I think part of my game is the fast break and I think people don’t mind watching me either,’’ Freer said.

‘‘I try to put on a little bit of a show, but I try to play good, fundamental, basketball.’’

The Slammers’ swift moves to snare Freer could not be further removed from their problematic recruiting of imports in season 2010.

Earlier this year, American pointguard Trey Clarkson was barred from playing during the first month of SBL fixtures because of delays with his visa application, while their second US signing, Jessan Gray, parted ways with the club after suffering a serious knee injury early in the season.

Coach Carl Catalano said that the club had made a concerted effort to handle the recruiting of imports differently ahead of 2011.

‘‘We identified as a club that our import situation needed to be sorted early,’’ he said.

‘‘The more preparation you get is going to put you in a better position.’’ Catalano said the Slammers squad had been buoyed by the news that Freer had committed for 2011.

‘‘It’s great to have one of our import positions locked away so early,’’ Catalano said.

‘‘It gives us a really good start to our pre-season and also creates a really good buzz around the place.’’

Two weeks ago, the Slammers announced the signing of key local trio Trent Worthington, Jason Smith and Brad Hawkins for the 2011 season.