United re-sign pair, pick up import

GEELONG United’s two reigning Most Valuable Player (MVP) recipients have extended their time in the blue and white for another season.

Guard Demarcus Gatlin and big man George Blagojevic have re-signed with the club and are fired up for the NBL1 South campaign to get under way.

Originally joining the team in 2016, Gatlin is a multiple time club MVP, 2019 league MVP award winner and reigning NBL1 South Defensive Player of the Year.

Playing in all 22 regular season games plus finals last season, Gatlin averaged 13.3 points, 7.1 rebounds and 4.87 assists.

He said he was very excited for the upcoming season, which begins at home on March 29 against Mount Gambier.

“We were able to keep our core and add in a few additions. If we can gel, I think we’ll have a successful season.

“The community makes Geelong feel like home away from home. They’ve been really good to me, and I’d like to pay them back with a championship”.

Blagojevic will wear United colours for a fifth season.

His contract extension comes off the back of a huge recent campaign where he averaged 19.4 points, 8.4 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game.

He said he was super excited to be joining Gatlin and United for the year ahead.

“We have a really solid group. Adding some great pieces to an already stacked core group from last year.

“Hopefully we can learn from last year’s mistakes, get off to a good start and push for a championship.”

Geelong United has also signed an experienced point guard as it looks to build on its 2024 finals appearance.

American import Kaelen Malone joins the squad after his latest stint with Sumqayit in the Azerbaijan ABL, where he averaged 17.4 points, 3.8 rebounds, 7.9 assists and 1.5 steals per game.

The 6 foot 1 point guard, who graduated from Oral Roberts University in Oklahoma in 2019, said he had heard nothing but good things about United.

“I’m very excited and grateful for the opportunity,” the 29-year-old from McKinney, Texas said.

Coach Grant Wallace said Malone’s backcourt leadership would be crucial.

“He’s a well-experienced, strong body with the ability to lead with the ball in hand, paired with his flexibility to score which will work very well within our structure,” he said.