Snakes Pluck Bruce from CQUni Taipans Academy

The Skytrans Cairns Taipans today announced the signing of CQUniversity Taipans Academy guard Shaun Bruce to its active roster for the 2013/14 season.

Bruce arrived in Cairns in 2012 as a development player and member of the CQUniversity Taipans Academy, where he won the inaugural Aron Baynes Award for Most Outstanding Athlete.

Skytrans Taipans head coach Aaron Fearne acknowledged that Bruce’s solid grounding with the SEABL’s Ballarat Miners combined with his strong work ethic had made the signing an easy decision.

“Shaun has had a very good grounding over the past two years with Guy Molloy in Ballarat, and then he came into the Academy and worked very hard to get stronger. He was extremely professional,” Fearne said.

“As a development player he was always ready to go, always understood our scouting and proved he was capable of playing at the NBL level,” he said.

Bruce played 17 matches for the Taipans as a development player last season, and showed glimpses of a bright NBL future when he scored seven points in 14 minutes against the Wollongong Hawks in December.

At the same time he undertook undergraduate studies in exercise and sports science with CQUniversity, which also provided personal support to Bruce by way of a player scholarship.

Fearne credited the 2012 revival of the CQUniversity Taipans Academy in securing the 192-centimetre point guard’s services.

“We’ve had kids from all over the country inquire about our Academy programme, which is testament to the support CQUniversity has provided,” he said.

“History has showed that if guys put in the work and stay disciplined, they’ll get an opportunity to play at the NBL level and even further afield, like Aron Baynes and Nathan Jawai.”

Bruce said his elevation to the Taipans roster was a dream come true.

“I’m over the moon obviously; I dreamed as a little kid and looked up to the NBL and wanted to be part of a club. I’m looking forward to next season and have a good feeling about the group that’s been put together,” he said.

Bruce is currently captaining the Ballarat Miners in the SEABL, averaging 14.2 points, 6.4 assists and 3.3 rebounds per game.