It's Curtis Withers.

Draft Express Profile.

If its him hes definately not a 4/5.

Withers played in the NBDL last season, split between two teams, Dakota and Sioux Falls. Whilst playing for Dakota he appeared in 32 games averaged 8ppg, 6.3rpg and 0.4bpg. Whilst playing for Sioux Falls Curtis averaged 14ppg, 6.8rpg abd 2.1apg.

Hm... Not sure I would play him at the 5.. 6'6" acording to Draft Express.

Although it is noteworthy both Perth and Townsville have BIG backup centres, and tough rebounding PFs to sit next to the centres as well.

This guy wasn't even on their shortlist so obviously their original talks fell through.

Fair call, I had the idea in my head Trueman was taller than he is.

Unless this guy plays well above his size, my high hopes for this season have just been dashed somewhat. Pretty weird to publicly narrow down the search to two guys and then announce the signing of a completely separate guy.

They had plenty of money to spend on these two imports so they better be HUGE on the court.

I think the true x factor for the Crocs will be Ben Allen. He's been working with Pat Reidy during the off season, he was on the out & then Woolpert had a sudden change of heart.. I think it's do or die for his Croc career this year.

Mick I don't think there was much money at all...Much less money was NEEDED because of the departure of Schenscher and the downgrades of Cedar/Hinder/Allen's contracts, but I daresay that that big difference was not reinvested to the same level. Nevertheless, personally I like the versatility of the team, and agree that Allen could be a big hinge here. He is doing well in QBL (18pts, 13rbs). Similar output to M Cedar and Blanchfield, so hopefully that can translate to an increase in production in the NBL.

The Kings will also struggle at the centre if Crosswhite is injured or gets into foul trouble.

Lazare and Garlepp are their next options and most centres would tower over them.

I think youre right Ziah. I was assuming they would spend to a similar level and have a lot for imports, but it looks as if they are taking a sustainable position. Good on them if true.

The two imports they have gotten give them athleticism and strength which complements a team of shooters. Good balance, enough talent to compete for playoffs, but hard to see it being a championship calibre team.

Nat, I agree re Allen, if he can have a productive year and hit jumpers like he did in college he could partner Withers very well at the offensive end, same with Hinder if he can still be productive.

I am pretty confident I am right. I am also gonna say we can be championship calibre, cos I'm biased and desperate to see it happen. Hinge it on Allen and the imports.

If the fans dont believe who does?!

I actually think Hinder could be a big x-factor. His 2011 season was very good, shooting around 45% from deep to give Schenscher room and playing tough defence.

If he could approach anything like that again the Crocs will be dangerous. Forte and Withers could be hard to guard if the key is open.

I remember Rosell Ellis being pretty tough but he struggled against the length of players like Schenscher. Interesting decision which will be interesting to watch....

Mick Cedar and Ben Allen need to start working hard on the court on game night. From all accounts they are monsters in the training gym, and as hard working as you could find away from the official games, but I've never seen either of them so much as run at full pace during an NBL game let alone dive on a loose ball.. I think they both know it now, so I'm expecting (or hoping) for a respectable campaign from both of them.

So many question marks with this team right now. Can't wait to see how it comes together on the court. Three guys playing for contracts/careers in M Cedar, Allen and Hinder. Two new imports without much of a pedigree as another unknown quantity. No one over 6"7' or so in the starting lineup, but at the same time, it's by no means small when you add in the length of Blanchfield and Forte. Ultimate small ball lineup, IMO.

PG: Forte 6"6'
SG: Crawford 6"3'
SF: Blanchfield 6"7'
PF: Holmes 6"7'
C: Withers 6"7 (ive seen him listed at 6"6' and 6"8' so I'm splitting the difference).

Few teams will be able to match up with that.

Predicting mass facial reconstructive surgeries for every other PG in the league trying to guard Forte

I dont expect much from the crocs on paper.... 5-8th place id expect.

NZ, Perth, Cairns and Townsville in top four is already set, Hurls. Adelaide are in the mix too. No one else is close.

Agree with anon above. Except I don't think Sydney or Melbourne will be any better. Expect them to be the two worst teams.

Townsville always surprise me so consider this my reverse-jinx, but they'll have to get very lucky with both imports to press the top teams, IMO. Look to have gambled on the PG and also on the big?

The only problem with the financial constraints in Townsville is playing under in recent seasons is that every year they go without winning it all is another year they drift further away from the local public's consciousness. Basketball used to be huge in Townsville, even long after the national "demise" of the sport, but now the average local would struggle to name a single player on the team.

They are struggling to get people through the gates at the moment. The people who do bother to show up barely even cheer.

Spend just a little more and it might be better financially in the long term. You add a 6"11' legit starting NBL center to this roster and it's a bona fide championship contender. With Withers its a playoff contender for now, with championship hopes resting on many (waaay too many for my liking) variables.

They narrowed their search down to two guys (none of whom were Withers), and obviously couldn't get either of them to put pen to paper. The whole offseason was spent teasing fans about this near-seven-foot monster the front office was about to bring over from the States. Instead we got a guy that looks to be undersized even for the power forward position starting as your center. It pisses people off if the gamble doesn't pay off. And pissed off people don't pay money for seats.

An extra twenty or forty grand and you might have the "back to the basket post monster" that the fans were promised, a title and sellouts for the next couple of seasons. It's still a gamble, but so is the "fiscally responsible" position of not ponying up the dough at all.

Instead of being right up there from the get go with Perth & NZ, your title hopes* are resting on whether or not Ben Allen can play pro ball -- and right now everything I've ever seen says he can't.

I know which gamble I'd rather take. But hey, it's not my decision. And I'm the rare pissed off guy who will pay for seats either way.

*Obviously it all changes and I eat my words if Withers and Forte are both absolute gems -- even playing out of position. But it's still a huuuuge gamble to be making with a squad that was one win away from the finals last season.

On another note: who was the last team to win it all in the NBL with a "small ball" roster?

Of all the thousands of Americans playing as imports around the world only about 25 in total are seven footers, and Im not aware of any that play in any of the major leagues.

In the Euroleague last year I think there were three imports over 6'9 (and one of them was Jawai), but a lot of 6'8-6'9 Americans playing centre, so I dont think it's a case of being able to afford them.

As a generalisation, almost any US big man who can walk and chew gum gets into the NBA system, and those that cant either give up or go and play in some minor league where being tall is enough to be effective.

Absolutely. Which is why I was wary of Woolpert's claims from the outset. Always think the best route in NBL is to fill the C spot with a local guy.

But there's still a few guys bigger than 6"7' available as imports.

Who knows, they might make small ball work.

The intent is to start Withers as the C, according to the coaching staff.

Not sure how the rotations will work. So much of this year is going to depend on how Woolpert works his rotations, but he should be up to the task.

You will know by the first game whether Ben Allen is ready for pro ball. If he comes out of the locker room with his hair all gelled up like his first two seasons, i think it will be a good indication that he still doesn't get it.

Here's hoping.