Taipans secure first import for NBL25

Thursday, May 9, 2024

Tanner Groves has signed a one-year deal with the Cairns Taipans.

The Cairns Taipans have locked away their first import for NBL25, signing 24-year-old Tanner Groves on a one-year deal.

The 205-centimetre big spent five years in the NCAA, the first three of which were spent with Eastern Washington University. He was a breakout star of the 2021 NCAA tournament as Big Sky Conference MVP, Big Sky Tournament MVP and was named to the All-Big Sky first-team, before he moved to The University of Oklahoma.

As a senior, Groves started in all his 34 appearances for the Sooners, averaging 11.6 points, 5.8 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game and shot over 38 per cent from three. As a super-senior he averaged 10.2 points, 7.2 boards and 1.1 blocks per game, recording a team-high six double-doubles.

He completed his collegiate career as a two-time College Sports Communicators All-American and became the first men's basketball player in Oklahoma’s history to be honoured with a Big 12 Scholar-Athlete of the Year accolade.

Groves also represented the Oklahoma City Thunder alongside the likes of Chet Holmgren, Jalen Williams and former Next Star Ousmane Dieng at the 2023 NBA Summer League.

“Tanner is a competitor. He is just built differently. He does all the dirty work and prides himself on not taking any possessions off. He sets hard screens, fights for rebounds and loose balls. He’s a 6’9” pitbull, with post moves,” Taipans coach Adam Forde told the club's website.

“He is a perfect fit for us and complements the bigs we have currently on our roster.

“In one instance, we can pair him with Sam [Waardenburg] when we want to play Tanner in some post action.

“Then have him spaced on the three-point line when we want to open up the corridor for Kyrin [Galloway] or AK [Gak] in the pick and roll.

“He is a high character guy that has a blue-collar work ethic. I’m confident Cairns is really going to enjoy having Tanner here."

Groves has represented Polish side Anwil and Chinese side Xinjiang in the past 12 months, and is currently playing for Rasta Vechta in the German Basketball Bundesliga, where he is currently averaging 7.5 points and 5.6 rebounds per game.

The Taipans' newest signing is expected to arrive in Far North Queensland in August.