QBL legend Pop Dickerson names his greatest Mountaineers teammates of all time

Toowoomba and Queensland basketball legend Pop Dickerson has revealed his greatest Toowoomba teammates of all time in a Mountaineers dream team.

Toowoomba and Queensland basketball legend Clarence ‘Pop’ Dickerson was one of the greatest imports to grace the Garden City and famously led the Mountaineers to back-to-back titles in 1990 and 1991.

After spending more than 10 years at he club during its golden era, the American star has revealed his all-time best Mountaineers side of players he played alongside.

Check out the team below:

Toowoomba basketball legend Pop Dickerson.

Point guard: Pop Dickerson

Pop leads this team at point guard and was by far the greatest player to ever don the Mountaineers colours.

After being drafted by the Washington Bullets in the NBA, the electric guard made the move across the Pacific to join Toowoomba, where he spent more than a decade at the club and averaged more than 30 points per game.

Along with his incredible performances on the court, Dickerson has helped inspire generations of future stars with his famous basketball Supercamp.

The camp is running again this year from January 6-10 and Dickerson has encouraged anyone who is interested to come along, with plenty of spots still available.

John Rillie flies towards the basket for the Townsville Crocodiles in 2008. Photo: Cameron Laird.

Shooting guard: John Rillie

Rillie formed an unstoppable partnership with Dickerson in the back-court throughout the late 1980s and early 1990s.

“He was just a phenomenal and savvy player,” Dickerson said

“John and I, we played on the same team since he was 14 years old, so we just knew what each other was going to do.

“Both of us were really good scorers and we fed off each other really well so they (the opposition) were unable to stop us.

“He went to Gonzaga and went to my Supercamps as a kid and to make the Australian team, that was even better and a real endorsement for the camp.”

After playing for the Mountaineers and the Gonzaga Bulldogs in college, Rillie later returned to Australia and embarked on a 15-year professional playing career, playing in the NBL and in Greece.

He has since made his name as a coach and is currently in charge of the Perth Wildcats.

Small forward: Michael Ingram

“He was a prolific scorer and a really good player” Dickerson said.

“He was about 220 pounds (100 kilograms) and he had so many moves.”

Dave Nelson (right) alongside Leroy Loggins during the 1986 NBL grand final series.

Power forward: Dave Nelson

Nelson was a dynamic power forward, who tasted success at NBL level, winning three titles with the Canberra Cannons.

He was a proficient scorer, who helped make the Mountaineers a threat in both the front and back court.

“He was six foot eight and had a line dry jumpshot,” Dickerson said.

Center: Martin Nessley

The Duke University alumni and former LA Clipper completes the starting line-up in the Mountaineers dream team.

He stood at 7ft 2 and weighed in at 120 kilograms, making him an imposing figure on the court.

Nessley spent one season in the NBA, playing for the LA Clippers and Sacramento Kings, before playing minor league basketball and later joining Toowoomba.

“He was a very good big man,” Dickerson said.

“He was mobile, had great timing and was NBA material.”

Honourable mentions:

David Blades playing for the Townsville Heat.

David Blades

“Before Johnny (Rillie) became of age, we had a player named David Blades,” Dickerson said.

“David went on to play for Townsville in the NBL and we used to call him ‘Razor Blade’, because he was so quick.

“I played with Johnny and David because I could slot down to the number three slot as well.

“They were two dynamic back court players.”

The Toowoomba-born star was the joint MVP for the 1990 QBL season and spent four seasons with Townsville in the NBL from 1993 to 1996.

Danny Morseu coaching the Toowoomba Mountaineers men’s team.

Danny Morseu

“He was a very good small forward and was the second Indigenous player to play on the Australian team,” Dickerson said.

Morseu had a decorated NBL career and played for Australia at the 1980 and 1984 Olympics.

He was a three-time NBL champion and was a member of the All-NBL team on two occasions.

Morseu is also a member of the NBL Hall of Fame.

Stay tuned for the second part of this series where Dickerson reveals five of the best players he played against during his QBL career.