Weigh to play key role for Wildcats
Perth Wildcats coach Rob Beveridge has called on swingman Stephen Weigh to take his game to the next level as his new-look team goes in search of the club's fifth NBL title.
In a clear sign of Beveridge's belief in his young charge's potential, the former Sydney Spirit coach rejected calls to recruit another senior player to take the pressure off Weigh in the small forward position.
Instead, Beveridge will give the 22-year-old greater responsibility in a team bursting at the seams with wisdom and experience.
Weigh will form part of a highly respectable Wildcats front court alongside American-born Boomer Shawn Redhage, 216cm giant Luke Schenscher and wily veterans Paul Rogers and Martin Cattalini.
"I want Stevie to have a breakout season. When I was recruiting imports people were suggesting that I should be looking for a three-man type import, but I've got an enormous amount of faith in his ability," Beveridge said.
"I don't want to recruit over Stevie Weigh because I'm going to expose him this year. He's going to play a lot of court time and we'll give him an opportunity to thrive."
Weigh's confidence is sky high after he was drafted into the national set-up by new Boomers coach Brett Brown and Beveridge believes that will help the second-year Wildcat reach his potential.
The Perth coach is unconcerned about the possible downside of heaping pressure on a young player to perform. "I'm not going to think he's 22 years of age, therefore there's too much expectation. I'm not even looking at that," Beveridge said.
"I want to put the heat on him to play. He's a man and after his experience with the Boomers squad he should play with some confidence. This year I will put him in situations of pressure where he could be the go-to guy when we need to score.
"Age is irrelevant as far as I'm concerned. Yeah, he'll make some mistakes, we all make mistakes, but if I give him the opportunity he's going to get better a lot sooner than if you just milk his time.
"He's going to be a professional for a long time and my job as a coach is to nurture him and help him become a great player. He's not going to get that done if he sits on the bench."
Weigh averaged nearly 26 minutes on court as Perth went 0-3 at the Top End Challenge pre-season tournament earlier this month, scoring a team-high 14.3 points per game.
Meanwhile, championship hopefuls Melbourne have finalised their squad for the 2009-10 season with the addition of Tim Lang and former Wildcats forward Ben Knight. The Tigers now have 11 players on their books, with marquee player Chris Anstey to sit on the sidelines until January due to a hip injury.
Runner-up to the now-defunct South Dragons last season, Melbourne will attempt to go one better and become just the second club to win an NBL title with an all-Australian squad this season.
Former Victoria Titans and Wollongong big man Adam Ballinger has been named captain of Adelaide 36ers for the upcoming season.
