Adelaide 36ers' Tom Daly to trial with Sydney Kings - Adelaide Now

Adelaide 36ers development guard Tom Daly has been invited by Shane Heal to do a trial with the Sydney Kings. Source: News Limited

STURT'S 2012 Woollacott Medallist and long-time Adelaide 36ers development guard Tom Daly will trial for an NBL roster spot with Sydney Kings next week.

Kings coach Shane Heal invited Daly, 22 and a 186cm point guard, to trial with the club which is looking for a back-up playmaker to new import Jesse Sanders.

After leading Sturt to the SBL grand final last year, then spending another NBL season mostly as a 36ers development player, Daly has been averaging 13.7 points, 3.5 assists and 3.9 rebounds with the South-Conference leading Mount Gambier Pioneers in the SEABL this season.

"We're excited at the chance to take a good look at him," Heal said.

"The first impression I got of Tom was a while ago when I was (TV) commentating.

"He got my number off (former 36ers coach) Marty Clarke and rang me to seek advice about being a better point guard.

"I know he's a hard worker and passionate about the game."

Heal said he also had consulted with former 36ers assistant coach and now Pioneers coach Richard Hill who had been very complimentary about Daly's progress as a player.

If successful, Daly would become the third South Australian on the Kings' roster, joining Ben Madgen and Brad Hill.

Madgen, however, will be out for five-to-six months following a shocking ankle dislocation at Boomers' training in Perth on Sunday.

The Kings camp will run from Monday-to-Wednesday at Alexandria Stadium, the club looking for a back-up point guard, a potential new import and to fill its development player stocks.

Daly will have competition for that back-up playmaking role from Luke Cooper, Luke Kendall, Shaun Gleeson and Deba George.

Sydney also will trial three imports, one from the SEABL, one from Queensland and the third from the state league.

The Kings also will explore the best available Australian options and look for the best possible fit to replace Madgen while he recuperates from injury.

Next week's sessions will be "full on" with scrimmages videotaped, stats collated and serious evaluations made on the competitors.

"I ran a similar thing with the (South) Dragons in Melbourne and we got Nathan Herbert out of that so you never know who you might discover," Heal said.

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