The Taylor Bay Hawks are pleased to announce the signing of two-time Australian Olympian and current 2018 Australian NBL champion with Melbourne United, 2.03 metre forward David Barlow for the 2018 New Zealand NBL season.
Barlow was instrumental in Melbourne winning the title last Saturday night as his minutes increased as the season reached its most critical stages. Barlow delivered many clutch moments, including a dagger three in Game One to help eliminate the New Zealand Breakers in the semi-final series. In the five game finals series victory (3-2) over the Adelaide 36ers Barlow averaged 17 minutes, 6.2 points, 3.6 rebounds and shot 10 from 17 from the three point line.
The 34-year old Barlow is no stranger to championship glory, having enjoyed an illustrious career spanning multiple continents and numerous titles, beginning as a junior in Melbourne with the Sandringham Sabres club and Sandringham College.
In 2002-03 he moved to the United States to attend Metro State University in Denver, a NCAA Division II powerhouse with a rich pipeline of Australian talent including the likes of Nick Kay (previously of the Southland Sharks) and Mitch McCarron (previously of the Supercity Rangers). While he was in Denver he played for coach Mike Dunlap, previously of the Adelaide 36ers, who would later go on to coach the NBA’s Charlotte Bobcats. Upon returning to Australia, Barlow signed with the Sydney Kings, who were at that time under the guidance of legendary coach Brian Goorjian. There Barlow won two Australian NBL championships in 2004 and 2005. He would add a third with the Melbourne Tigers in 2008. During this time Barlow’s exceptional contributions to winning teams saw him earn regular national team selection, as he debuted for the Australian Boomers in 2006. He went on to represent Australia at two world championships (2006 in Japan, where the Boomers were eliminated by the USA in the Round of 16; and 2010 in Turkey where the Boomers finished 10th) and in two Olympics (2008 in Beijing, where the Boomers finished 7th; and 2012 in London, where under current Philadelphia 76ers head coach Brett Brown the Boomers again finished 7th, including a quarter-final defeat at the hands of the eventual gold medalists the USA Redeem Team featuring Kobe Bryant and LeBron James). Barlow would also head abroad, signing with Zaragoza in Spain, where he helped them to a LEB Oro (Spanish Second League) championship in 2010. He went on to sign with UCAM Murcia in the Spanish ACB (First League), arguably the best domestic league in the world outside of the NBA. Barlow also played for Stelmet Zielona Gora in Poland and would later return to the Spanish ACB for a short stint with Obradoiro. Barlow rejoined Melbourne in 2014 and has been a crucial veteran presence as the club has navigated its way back to the top of the Australian NBL ladder. Taylor Hawks Head Coach Zico Coronel looks forward to the winning contributions Barlow is expected to make this coming season. “The four is a very important position in determining how well a team plays as a group, and in David Barlow we have a veteran player who plays with the efficient functioning of his team at the forefront of his mind. He is a willing passer, and is very efficient in his use of the shot clock. He is also an excellent perimeter shooter which will aid us in spreading the defence out. Most importantly Barlow is a very knowledgeable team defender who does a lot of subtle but critical movements that are necessary in order to get stops. He is also a capable and versatile individual defender.” Barlow will be no stranger to his Taylor Hawks teammates as he joins fellow Australian NBL players Jarrod Kenny, Mitch Newton and Angus Brandt as well as former Australian NBL players Everard Bartlett, Dion Prewster and curent Tall Black Ethan Rusbatch in the Bay. In addition the Taylor Hawks have Kareem Johnson and Hyrum Harris on board. The Taylor Hawks also recently announced their squad to great social media fan fair on their Facebook page. The following players have been selected: Kaleb Edwards, Nick Fee, Reuben Fitzgerald, Nikau Joyce, Jaxson MacFarlane, Ravi Mani, Dominic McGovan and Pete Wilkie. The Taylor Hawks season commences on April 26th, at 7 pm, when Pettigrew Green Arena in Taradale will play host to the visiting Southland Sharks, in what promises to be an enthralling match-up.
