STANDING TALL: Chris Smith, pictured playing for Mount Gambier's Pioneers. PICTURE: ROD MORRIS, THE BORDER WATCH.
THE MINERS will get a whole lot bigger next year, signing one of the tallest players in the league Chris Smith, who stands at 208 centimetres.
Smith played in Mt Gambier's Pioneers in SEABL in 2011 and 2012, where last season he averaged 10 points and 12 rebounds per 40 minutes.
Prior to playing in SEABL, Smith played American NCAA college basketball for Hawaii's Chaminade University in 08/09 and 09/10.
"I had a couple of injuries over there, so decided it was best to come home and pursue basketball in Australia," Smith said.
The 23-year-old said he first spoke with the Miners after the 2011 season but committed to spending another year in Mt Gambier.
"I'm ready for a change. My girlfriend lives in Melbourne, I wanted to be closer to the city and closer to an airport as my family lives up in Brisbane," Smith said.
"I'm excited to join the Miners. I've heard nothing but good things about the organisation and (Miners head coach) Guy Molloy," said Smith.
He will move to Ballarat in early January when the Miners start pre-season training, after spending some time with his family in Brisbane over Christmas.