Miners ink more names to squad

THE Hotondo Homes Ballarat Miners line-up for the upcoming NBL1 South season is becoming clearer following a series of player announcements recently.

Inked players include Jordan Lingard, Daniel Joyce and Matthew Kenyon.

A 203-centimetre-tall forward, Lingard played his first season with the Miners in 2019 and is originally from Colac.

“My first year here was an unforgettable one basketball wise and also being welcomed into the community and the team,” he said

“So for me to re-sign with such a great organisation was a no brainer.”

Second cab off the rank was Daniel Joyce who originally signed with the Miners last year before that season was cancelled.

He last played for the Canberra Gunners in the NSW Waratah League in 2019 where he had a strong 13.29 points per game average and a shooting percentage at just under 36 per cent.

The 189-centimetre-tall guard also played juniors with the Celtic Tigers before moving to Illawarra with his family. Along the way he’s had stints in the NBL with the Sydney Kings, Gold Coast Blaze and Illawarra Hawks.

“I am very excited to be returning to the Hotondo Homes Ballarat Miners after our cancelled season last year,” Joyce said.

“To be able to have basketball back in the great community of Ballarat and to be a part of it, is huge. I am thrilled to come back to a great group of players, coaches and staff, who will all be involved with us having a successful season in NBL1.”

Making up the tripartite is 196-centimetre-tall shooting forward Matthew Kenyon.

The 23-year-old Avoca Beach, NSW native is coming off national duty with the Boomers in the Asian Cup and played NBA G League with the Capital City Go-Go, an affiliate of the Washington Wizards. He also had tryouts with the LA Lakers, and Clippers, as well as the Chicago Bulls.

“I’m super excited about coming to Ballarat for the NBL1 South Season,” Kenyon said. “Looking forward to meeting the guys and getting to know everyone when I get there. It should be an exciting year.”

“First and foremost I want to win. One of the main reasons I signed here was because I knew I’d be surrounded by other good players and coaching.

“So winning is first, but also to put a great individual season together and show how much I’ve grown over the past few years not only physically but also mentally.”

The Miners NBL1 South campaign gets underway on Saturday, 17 April with a road game against the Albury Wodonga Bandits.