The rotating door to the Halifax Rainmen’s centre position took another spin on Monday and Cyril Awere walked through.
The Rainmen, who have been unsuccessful in their bid to land an impact centre over the past three seasons, welcomed the muscle-bound seven-footer from Nigeria to training camp in their continued effort to assemble a championship-calibre starting five.
“If he can run and chew bubble gum, he’s gonna help us,” said Rainmen owner Andre Levingston.
That wasn’t the case with the previous seven-footers who suited up for the Rainmen: Shagari Alleyne, James Tyler and Tyronne McNeil saw just 191 minutes of floor time, combined.
But Levingston received a recommendation on Awere from former Vermont Frost Heaves head coach Will Voigt, who now coaches the Bakersfield Jam of the NBA D-League.
“He’s shown a great touch for his size … Rebounding, blocking shots, but it’s more about the potential you’ve got to be excited about,” Voigt said. “I don’t think I’d expect him to be dominating in his first (Premier Basketball League) game, but if they give him time, he could turn out to be a pretty good player.”
