American recruit Anthony Gaines wants to provide leadership and experience for the General Roberts Hotel Newcastle Falcons this year.
The 24-year-old New Yorker has signed to play for the Falcons this NBL1 season, and pending his international clearance being processed in time, he hopes to make his debut against Sutherland Sharks at Sutherland tomorrow night.
Gaines hails from Kingston, New York, and his college career included stints at nearby Siena College, and Northwestern University in Chicago. He captained Siena as a graduate student in the 2021-22 season, having led his Northwestern team in his final two years there before transferring to Siena.
He said a connection between his Siena College coach Carmen Maciariello and Newcastle Basketball Vice President and former Hunter Pirates import Chris Brown led to his arrival in Newcastle.
“I’m extremely excited about the opportunity to begin the next chapter of my career in Australia with the Newcastle Falcons,” said Gaines, who graduated college with a communications degree and a Master of Business Administration.
“My college coach Carmen Maciariello and Chris Brown played together at college [at University of New Hampshire], and Carmen contacted Chris and it developed from there.”
A 193cm combo guard, Gaines arrived in Newcastle on Tuesday and has impressed his teammates at training this week with his speed, strength and intensity at both ends of the floor.
“He’s strong in the open court at the offensive end and can guard smaller and bigger players on the defensive end which gives us great flexibility,” Falcons coach Peter Astley said.
“He’s really unselfish, which is important in fitting in with the way we want to play.”
Newcastle Basketball General Manager Matt Neason said Gaines had made a good first impression on and off the court.
“Anthony’s leadership is going to be invaluable for us this year,” Neason said.
“He’s been voted captain everywhere he’s played, and this just speaks to the type of person he is.”
Newcastle’s first home game is against Manly Warringah Sea Eagles on Saturday, March 18.