Mount Gambier Pioneers big man Nick Marshall has been signed by the Adelaide 36ers for this year’s NBL season.
The athletic 198cm has been signed as the club’s third development player and has already taken the court for Adelaide in the NBL Blitz.
Marshall, 22, continues to build his game as he has worked hard within the 36ers program for the past two seasons.
Primarily concentrating on football until the age of 17, Marshall began playing basketball for the North Adelaide Rockets in the U/18 ranks, a path that took him from the lower divisions to the men’s team over time.
By the U/20 stage Marshall had been named to the SA Metro State team, a squad that came second at the National Championships in Gosford, NSW.
A stint in the US followed with the talented wing accepting an offer from Clarke University (NAIA, Iowa) before returning to Australia to sign with Mount Gambier for the 20/21 NBL1 South season.
Over the COVID-shortened season, averages of 16 points, six rebounds and two assists per game earned him the Coach’s Award and served to solidify his reputation as a rising talent.
Adelaide 36ers Assistant Coach Jamie Pearlman, who has worked extensively with Marshall over the past two off-seasons, was full of praise for the local talent.
“Nick brings a great work ethic and a focused mental approach to training and games,” he said.
“He has great size for a wing as well as being a tremendous athlete.
“We have been impressed with his pre-season performance and strongly believe he is ready to contribute in the NBL when called upon.”
Pioneers head coach Richard Hill said Marshall had slotted into the 36ers team.
“He was really good, I identified him in the off season last year, he was a train on with 36ers and came down,” he said.
“He started pretty slowly but he was pretty darn good.
“He had a really good season for us even though we only played a few games and there’s a still a significant amount of improvement in him.
“He played for the 36ers against Cairns on Sunday in the Blitz, he had good minutes and played pretty well.”
Hill said he was confident Marshall would re-sign with the Pioneers for season 2022.
Marshall joins Dusty Hannahs, Mojave King, Mitch McCarron, Todd Withers, Kai Sotto, Emmanuel Malou, Tad Dufelmeier Jr, Hyrum Harris and Cameron Bairstow as new additions to this season’s Adelaide 36ers roster, which includes incumbent Sixers Isaac Humphries, Sunday Dech and Daniel Johnson.
