NSW-born James Hunter will provide international experience and a significant physical presence for the  GMHBA Miners in the South East Australian Basketball League this year.

Hunter stands 208cm and will arrive in Ballarat in May after completing his contract with Grupo Inec Zamora  in Spain.

While the 24-year-old misses the start of the SEABL season, it is a compromise the Miners are prepared to make to get a player of his size into the squad.

Miners coach Eric Hayes said Hunter had great size and moved well for a tall guy.

“Hunter’s ability to rebound and block shots would be good for us,” he said.

Hunter played college basketball in the United States for Washington State and University of South Dakota up to last year when he completed his studies.

He then joined the Manawatu Jets in the New Zealand National Basketball League before going to play in Spain’s fourth tier, where is is a starting five player.averaging 11 points and seven rebounds per game.

Hunter will complement Chris Smith, who is among re-signings for the Miners with US import Roy Booker and Dyson King-Hawea.

Earnest Ross and Cairns Taipans development player Ash Constable, who is returning to his hometown later this month after a season away, are additions.

Basketball Ballarat elite teams administrator Melissa Thomas said hopefully a second import would be secured over the next week.

“We are just making all the necessary checks to ensure we recruit the right player on and off the court.” she said. 

The Miners and Rush launch their season with a doubleheader against arch-rivals Bendigo Braves and Bendigo Lady Braves in Ballarat on Friday, April 1.