Taipans re-sign Tahjere McCall

The CQUniversity Cairns Taipans are pleased to announce that Tahjere McCall will be returning to the club on a new two-year agreement, with the American guard committing to Cairns until 2024. 
 
McCall was a standout in the Taipans’ 2021-22 campaign, leading the team in scoring (16) assists (5.6) and steals (1.9) per game. He finished the season as the only player in the league to finish in the Top Three for both assists and steals.  
 
The 27-year-old led the Taipans through injury and adversity in his NBL debut and had a remarkable impact to the team on and off the floor.
 
Head Coach Adam Forde has previously described McCall as the “type of player you build a team around,” and said that negotiations with his star import began very early in the year. 
 
“I couldn’t be happier to finally announce that Tahj is coming back – he embodies everything we’re trying to build towards, and we love his work ethic, grit and enjoyment of the game. 
 
“We had a very memorable, positive conversation back in February and we knew that moving forward we could count on Tahj and that he saw his future here in Cairns.   
 
“He’s agreed to a two-year deal which demonstrates that he’s just as invested in this as we are invested in him, which I think is really significant,” said Forde.
 
“And just as importantly, Tahjere’s best basketball is still yet to come and he’s going to help us win. He’s got that natural born leadership and charisma that makes everyone around him better.”
 
In his final game of the season, McCall made history as the only NBL player ever in the 40-minute era to have 40+ points and 10+ assists in an unforgettable display against the Bullets, with his 42 points the highest score across the league in 2021-22. 
 
McCall is currently playing for the Otago Nuggets in the New Zealand NBL and will return to Far North Queensland for the Taipans pre-season in late August. McCall joins Keanu Pinder, Bul Kuol, Majok Deng and Mirko Djeric on the roster. Orange Army memberships will be available tomorrow online and in-store!