The St Laurence Geelong Supercats have announced the signing of 201cm Power Forward Dominic Friend from Nicholls State University.

Dominic, the son of former Geelong West (VFA) footballer John Friend, grew up in Geelong and played local basketball for Try Boys and the Geelong Junior Representative Program. During this time Friend also played in the Victorian Country U16 and U18 teams before winning a National Championship with the Victorian U20 team in February 2006.

In mid 2006 Friend accepted a college basketball scholarship at Nicholls State University in the Southland Conference where he proved to be a key big man for the Colonels throughout his 89 games in the red and white. During his college career Friend gained wonderful experience playing against some outstanding players including 2008 National Player of the Year and No 13 NBA draft pick Tyler Hansbrough, who played for powerhouse North Carolina, the No 1 college team at the time.

“It is one of my highlights without a doubt. It was a nationally televised game, they were the best team in the country and I had to play on the best player on their team. We only went down by 10 points and won the second half by 1 point” says Friend.

Friend is keen to return home and join the Supercats team in mid May. Head Coach Jamie O’Loughlin is also looking forward to his return and the opportunity to coach Friend again. “I coached Dom for 4 years as a junior player and he was great to coach. His work ethic is outstanding, he is a team first guy and he knows how to win. The last game I coached him in we won a U18 state title for Geelong” Says O’Loughlin