Keilor Thunder’s Patrick Ryan will get his chance to train with the best having signed a development contract with the South East Melbourne Phoenix for the NBL season.
Ryan returned from college in America this year and joined the Thunder line up late in the piece.
The Phoenix announced he would be a training partner for the season which has just kicked off.
Ryan spent the off-season as a training player with the Phoenix and was listed as a squad member for the recent NBL Blitz and Perth pre-season trips – showing enough to earn a development contract.
Phoenix basketball operations general manager Simon Mitchell said Ryan has been an invaluable part of the Phoenix’s preparation, and this promotion is a well-deserved reward for his effort.
“Pat is a workhorse with a unique defensive skill set and has shown great growth in the time he’s been with the Phoenix as a training player,” he said.
“We look forward to Pat learning under the guidance of our coaches and we hope that his trajectory continues to rise in the Heartland.”
Thunder coach Ash Arnott said during the National Basketball League 1 South season, that Ryan added something different to the team.
“Patty he was a great intro into our team in terms of the toughness and grittiness that he brought,” he said.
“We were really happy with how he has fit into our group and how we are going to build with him, especially in his position, great size, got some really good length, allows us to continue to be disruptive defensively and offensively and being able to put that pressure on the basket aggressive drives.
“Definitely someone to invest into the future.”
He’s the second Thunder player to receive a contract with the Phoenix this season, with Daniel Foster promoted to a full contract having initially signed a development contract.
