Other than a couple of Australian Basketball Association games in Sydney mid-year, Joyce has not played since the being cut by National Basketball League team Gold Coast Blaze after the 2008-09 season.

Miners coach Guy Molloy said Joyce had been a victim of the the NBL dropping back to eight teams.

"There weren't enough places for all the players."

Molloy has first-hand experience of what Joyce went through, having also been unable to remain in NBL coaching ranks.

Molloy was an assistant of the Melbourne-based South Dragons, which opted not to continue in the restructured NBL this season.

He said Joyce was keen to get back into a professional playing environment and saw Ballarat as way of keeping alive his hopes of resurrecting his NBL career.

"It has not been easy for him. He just wants to get out there and play basketball, " Molloy said.

He said Joyce was a genuine shooting guard, making his a "good fit" for the Miners.