Save the Cairns Taipans

April 21st, 2009: TCP By: James Silver

Jeromie Hill in Cairns this week

JEROMIE Hill could be the poster boy for the Cairns Taipans' survival bid.

The 18-year-old Cairns product is one of the nation's hottest basketball prospects, with several US colleges including Arizona State and St Louis keen to get him on their books.

Hill has a full scholarship at the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra and has become the only Australian to be invited to an elite basketball camp in China.
He is also in the frame for the Emus' under-19 world championships side, having been named in an extended squad of 15 for the titles in Auckland in July.

So what's Hill's long-term goal? To run onto the court in the colours of his hometown team at the Cairns Convention Centre.

Hill has been closely following the Taipans' survival fight from his new home in Canberra, and urged people to convert foundation memberships to cash.
"It's looking pretty good as long as people get their pledges in and definitely if anyone who can pay it up can do so because without the Taipans academy I wouldn't have had the chance to get where I've got to," Hill said. "After I've experienced college for a couple of years I'd definitely like to come back and play in the national league in Cairns."

But first Hill has to survive his stint at the AIS. The 202cm power forward attends three-to four training sessions a day, six days a week, and regularly plays for the AIS team in the SEABL competition on his days off. Hill said while the training was tiring he hoped the hard work would pay off with improved performances.

"They've been great down there (at the AIS), nothing has changed except the workload and intensity has increased," Hill said.

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