Who is Casey Prather?
News of another potential stud import is well on the way, but as things stand right now, Casey Prather is still a relatively new name to Australian basketball fans.
In conjunction with the NBL looking to form relationships between player and fan, we take an in-depth look at who could be the next big thing on our shores.
Casey Prather has been unofficially announced as one of the Perth Wildcats imports for season 2015/16 according to Sportando, and will enter the league after playing at the 2015 NBA Summer League for the D-League Select team.
Prather, 24, is a shooting guard/small forward who went undrafted in the 2014 NBA draft and spent the season playing for the Phoenix Suns D-League affiliate Bakersfield Jam after being signed by the Suns and waived shortly after.
Prior to this, Prather was a teammate of ex-Taipan guard Scottie Wilbekin at the University of Florida, where the team went to the NCAA's Final Four before bowing out to eventual champions, University of Connecticut (DeAndrew Daniels).
In college, Prather averaged 6.2ppg and 3rpg over a four year span, while in his final year his numbers were significantly highlighted with 13.8ppg and 5rpg. In his final game as a Gator, he managed 15 points against UConn in the Final Four.
Due to his stellar final year in college, Prather was named to the All-SEC first team, a major achievement in his young basketball career.
Most recently, playing within the D-League Select team at this year's Las Vegas Summer League, Prather averaged 8.67ppg and 5.33rpg in just over 17mpg in his three appearances.
With import swingmen very important in the increasing success of the national league, Prather will look to continue Perth's beaming success and hopes to improve on DeAndre Daniels' short stint at the club.
With a slashing offensive game, which allows him to get to the rim with minimal fuss, plus his assets on the defensive end which will enable him to guard the opposition's number one option when on the floor, Prather will enter the NBL hoping to improve on his extended offensive game.
A shaky three-point shooter at just over 33% beyond the arc last season for the Jam, Prather hopes to flourish from the ball movement and offensive spread head coach Trevor Gleeson puts on the floor thanks to the likes of Damian Martin and Jermaine Beal.
The potential signing of Casey Prather leaves just one spot left to fill on the Wildcats roster, with reports coming out of the club that Eric Burdon is high on the list to nail down the number 10 role.
Highlights of Prather's time at both Florida and Bakersfield can be found below.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gCa1geJpTYA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h502I5TkP6s