Dufelmeier tipped for stardom in NBL1 2020 season

Having spent the NBL season training alongside the league MVP runner-up, Tad Dufelmeier could emerge as one of the stars of the NBL1 in 2020.

Taipans Tad Dufelmeier during the Round 18 NBL match between the Cairns Taipans and the Illawarra Hawks at the Cairns Convention Centre in Cairns, Friday, January 31, 2020. (AAP Image/Brian Cassey)

HAVING spent the NBL season training alongside the league MVP runner-up, Tad Dufelmeier could emerge as one of the stars of the NBL1 in 2020.

That’s the view of Chargers coach Anthony Stewart, who had no hesitation in luring Dufelmeier back to Hobart for the upcoming season.

The former Australian junior representative starred for the Hobart Huskies last year, and didn’t look out of place when called up for a road trip with the Southern Huskies in the NZNBL.

He has spent the summer in Cairns as a development player on the Taipans list, where he trained alongside star import Scott Machado, who finished eight votes behind Bryce Cotton as the competition’s best player.

Stewart has no doubt the an NBL environment will only further elevate Dufelmeier’s game.

“When I bought him across to the Southern Huskies for the trip to New Zealand, straight away I thought he would be an NBL calibre player,” Stewart said.

“He has gone to Cairns and proven that, there is just a back log of guards up there they have been working with in the last four or five years but from all reports he is making very good inroads and Cairns are definitely wanting him back.

“He makes people better around him, he can score, I think he averaged close to 20 points a game in the NBL1 last season.

Tiri Masunda of the Huskies takes a shot during the NBL basketball match, Sharks v Huskies, ILT Stadium Southland, Invercargill, New Zealand, Saturday, June 15, 2019. Copyright Picture: Dianne Manson/www.photosport.nz

“You would think he has improved over the break training with the Taipans and going up against the runner-up MVP of the league every day.

“I have no doubt Tad will be in for a big year at this level and set up himself up for an NBL contract moving forward.”

Joining Dufelmeier as a Charger is another former Cairns project player in Christian Jurlina.

Jurlina, a 196cm sweet shooter who can play small forward or guard, has been training with the Sydney Kings and came recommended to Stewart from his Chargers SEABL championship captain Craig Moller.

Stewart said Tasmania’s re-entry to the NBL in 2021-22 confirmed last week, his recruitment has centred on providing opportunities to fringe players to take the next step.

Marlins' Christian Jurlina shoots beyond the arc in the Queensland Basketball League (QBL) match between the Cairns Marlins and the Rockhampton Rockets, held at Early Settler Stadium, Manunda. PICTURE: BRENDAN RADKE

“One of the priorities for me is trying to recruit guys who are tapping on the door, if not playing in the NBL, and Christian Jurlina is one of those guys.

“I think we have recruited two guys who could end up playing in a Tasmanian singlet moving forward.”