The Canterbury Rams have filled one of their two import spots with American guard Jeremy Kendle.

Kendle, who hails from Indiana but now plays for the Brisbane Bullets in the ANBL, is the sixth player confirmed in coach Mark Dickel’s team for the upcoming National Basketball League (NBL).

The 28-year-old joins co-captains Marques Whippy and Ethan Rusbatch, Mike Karena, Marcus Alipate and Quinn Clinton on the roster, which is expected to be filled with one more American import, two more New Zealanders and a local player.

Dickel said Kendle was “very talented” and he expected him to make his job easier when he arrived in Christchurch next month.

“He’s talented, he’s a real leader and just an all-round good dude. I’m excited,” Dickel said.

“It’s never easy finding players that you think are going to fit how we want to play and fit with the other players on your team.”

Kendle joined the Bullets as injury cover in December, before making his debut off the bench in an 84-82 loss to the New Zealand Breakers earlier this month.

The 1.88m tall guard made his first ANBL start in an 88-71 win against Melbourne United last week, scoring 12 points and adding six rebounds and four assists to his stat line.

“I’m very excited to be joining the Rams,” Kendle said in a statement.

“After looking at various options and speaking with coach Dickel, it became clear that they are building something very special in Canterbury and I can’t wait to be part of it.”

After striking out on a bunch of imports in the past, Dickel said the hardest part of his job was assembling a team.

“You reach out to as many agents, friends, people, anyone you know. It’s never easy because obviously the players that you want everyone wants. As much as anything it’s trying to do your work early so you have a chance to get those guys.”

The Rams have lost last year’s league MVP McKenzie Moore, who is now playing for the Promitheas Patras in the Greek Basketball League, but Dickel is confident he will soon be able to complete his rosters with targeted players.

Whether that includes forward Marcel Jones, who played for the team in 2014 and 2016, Dickel wouldn’t say.

“We’re kind of just waiting on the other import, that’s it,” he said. “Trying to get another import, bigger player, that’s kind of the last piece to the puzzle.”

However, all going well, Dickel won’t need to look outside of the region and country for players in the future.

He, Whippy and Alipate have been busy running a Mainland Eagles Academy coaching camp in Christchurch the past week, putting young Canterbury and South Island players through their paces.

The academy, which was setup in 2014 and aims to get as many college basketballers playing in the US, could soon play a big part, Dickel said.

“Ultimately, we will know the Rams as being successful when we’ve got 10 of these kids that have come through our programme that all play for the Rams and we don’t need to get imports.

“When we’ve got the best team in the league based off this. That’s a vision I had . . . and we’re probably five or 10 years away.

“The local focus is going to be four or five years from now when all of these kids come back from college.”

In addition to player recruitment and his work with the academy, Dickel has started Rams training with the few Christchurch-based players in his squad.

However, with less than two months before the team’s season opener against the Supercity Rangers on March 18, he admitted preparation wasn’t yet ideal.

“We’ve been training but until all your players get here it kind of defeats the purpose,” he said.

“But the key for us is whenever we get everyone here, how quick we can get them to understand how we want to play and then hope we get a bit of luck and everyone stays healthy.”

 – Stuff

For full article click here: http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/basketball/88837901/Canterbury-Rams-sign-Brisbane-Bullets-guard-Jeremy-Kendle-for-2017-NBL

For your chance to watch Jeremy, and the Rams play this season. Make sure to get your season tickets before it is too late!