FNQ hoops prodigy signs first pro deal
The deal just fell short of getting over the line last off-season and the Brisbane Bullets have finally now landed a Far North hoops prodigy to his first pro contract in the NBL.
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The Brisbane Bullets have made another key addition to their roster for the 2020-21 NBL season, signing talented Cairns youngster Tamuri Wigness.
The deal is for two NBL seasons.
The FNQ product, Wigness, has been a member of the NBA Global Academy in Canberra for the last three years and is currently in Basketball Australia’s Centre of Excellence.
He also played for the Bullets at last year’s NBL Blitz in Tasmania as well as training with the local Taipans over the last few years.
The 18-year-old Torres Strait Islander played junior basketball in Cairns and has enjoyed a celebrated junior career.
He featured at the past two Basketball Without Borders Global Camps at NBA All-Star
Weekend and made the All-Tournament Team in 2019.
Wigness also represented Australia at the 2019 Under 17 FIBA Oceania Championship, where he made All-Star Five, and the 2019 Under 19 FIBA World Cup.
The flashy teenage point guard was in discussions with the Bullets a year ago, with the club looking to bring in the FNQ junior in on a “Next Stars” contract.
The NBL put a stop to that, declaring the clever point guard was not on the level of other Next Stars players, which confused many within the basketball industry.
Brisbane, who finished fifth last year and have been busy in the free agency market already, have now signed Wigness to a full NBL contract.
Wigness’ potential is through the roof, having been selected in extended Australian Boomers squads already and travelling the world with the NBA Global Academy.
He impressed last NBL pre-season with the Bullets, playing against the local Taipans in games as well as attending the NBL Blitz in Tasmania, where he showed he was a player of the future.
The local kid who has trained with the Taipans for years and will now be playing with their biggest rivals.
The Cairns Basketball product, who has only recently turned 18, considered attending college after his junior programs but will now go professional.
Wigness has trained with his hometown Cairns Taipans on and off over the last four years but they have been beaten to the most exciting Far North product by their intra- state rivals.
At the Bullets, the Torres Strait Islander is expected to be mentored by NBL legend C.J. Bruton, who came into the league as a 19-year-old guard before going on to win six titles.
Bullets Head Coach Andrej Lemanis said to be able to add a young player of Tamuri’s talent level is testament to what we have built at the club.
“Tamuri had many options available to him and the significance of the trust he has placed in us to help with his continued growth as a player and person is not lost on us. We are proud of our ability to help players grow, develop and ultimately attain the goals they have set for themselves,” he said.
“Tamuri spent part of the last year’s pre-season with us and showed that he will be able to step in and compete at this level immediately, which is impressive for an 18-year-old. We have experienced his disruptive defensive ability first hand and that fits nicely with who we are as a team.
“He has great pace, can get in the lane and is a great creator for others – he is someone that others enjoy playing with. Just as importantly, he is a great person that understands how teams need to function to be successful. Throw in his competitive spirit and I think he will quickly become a favourite of the fans.”
Originally published as FNQ hoops prodigy signs first pro deal