Taipans sign DP: Brayden Inger

The CQUniversity Cairns Taipans have signed projected Tall Blacks representative Brayden Inger for the 2021-22 NBL season, with the 203cm forward joining the team as a development player.
 
Originally from Auckland, Inger won back-to-back titles with Rangitoto College (2015, 2016) before being offered a scholarship at NCAA Division I College, Mount St Mary’s University. A late change in coaching staff meant Inger instead switched to start playing professionally in the NBL1 West after high school. 
 
Suiting up for the Geraldton Buccaneers, Inger helped the club to their first Championship in 2019 and returned the following season. In 2020 he averaged 13.3 points (42% FGP) 5.7 rebounds and 3.0 assists in the shortened competition.
 
The 22-year-old returned home to New Zealand earlier this year to play for Rob Beveridge’s Southland Sharks, and averaged 14.3 points, 4.6 rebounds and 1.3 assists to secure a place in the NZNBL play-offs.
 
Inger and the Sharks faced the Hawks and Taipans guard Jarrod Kenny in this year’s NZNBL Final Four, the same team that Taipans Head Coach Adam Forde also coached for a short period during the off-season. 
 
“I coached against him when I was in New Zealand, but I also watched him play for the Buccaneers in WA as well, so I’ve seen what he is capable of, and I’ve been aware of his potential,” said Coach Forde.
 
“He’s a 6’8” pick-and-pop type player and I definitely think that is worth exploring. He has what it takes be an NBL player and it's common knowledge that he has been flagged by Basketball New Zealand as a future Tall Black.
 
“We will work in conjunction with Leonard King and the Basketball New Zealand high-performance staff to help with his development. He’s at the beginning of a promising career and his involvement with the Taipans will be beneficial for all parties.”
 
Inger joins the completed Taipans 2021-22 NBL roster, consisting of Scott Machado, Tahjere McCall, Stephen Zimmerman, Nathan Jawai, Kouat Noi, Majok Deng, Mirko Djeric, Jordan Ngatai, Jarrod Kenny, Keanu Pinder and Bul Kuol.