Cairns complete roster with Kuol

The CQUniversity Cairns Taipans are pleased to announce they have completed their 2021-22 NBL roster with the signing of Bul Kuol on a two-year agreement. The 6’8” forward joins the Taipans for his NBL debut, following his first season in the NBL1 South.

After completing his US collegiate career earlier this year, the 23-year-old was recruited by the Knox Raiders in his return to Australia as a promising NBL prospect. He averaged 18.2 points and 4.8 rebounds in 22.3 minutes across nine games, before the competition was postponed.

Taipans Head Coach Adam Forde said that he had been monitoring Kuol while he was in college and was impressed with his performance at the Raiders.   

“We had key pieces that we wanted to target for our team this off-season, and Bul is no exception to that strategy. The reason we’ve recruited him is simple - he is a 6’8” shooter that’ll complement our team by adding another layer to our overall style of play,” he said. 

“Throughout his entire college career, he shot 39 per cent from three, and more recently with Knox he had been shooting at 42 per cent. So, we are expecting much of the same here at the Taipans, and for him to continue to improve and mature as a professional basketball player.”

Kuol attended California Baptist University on an athletic scholarship, redshirting his first year while studying Business Administration. He played for the Detroit Mercy Titans in his final year of eligibility, averaging over 15 points and 5 rebounds in his last year at the NCAA D1 school.

“It’s always exciting bringing a rookie into a team. It’s well-known that Cairns have an excellent track record of developing Australian rookies over the years and I think Bul will be another success story,” said Coach Forde.

“He is high character guy, and that was one of the determining factors in signing him. Big energy on the court, but also big energy on the bench."

Born in Sudan, Kuol moved to Australia as a nine-year old and went to school in Canberra. He played for the Canberra Gunners and represented the ACT in the 2015 U20 Nationals. Currently based in Melbourne, Kuol will move to Cairns when interstate travel restrictions ease.

Bul Kuol completes the roster, joining Scott Machado, Cam Oliver, Tahjere McCall, Nate Jawai, Majok Deng, Kouat Noi, Jordan Ngatai, Mirko Djeric, Jarrod Kenny and Keanu Pinder. The early bird sale ENDS TODAY – sign up here to save!