Harper Sercombe
The Broadmeadows Broncos has secured one of the recruits of the Big V off season with last season’s scoring leader landing at the club.
American import Scottie Stone was playing at Western Port last season and averaged 28.9 points per game while shooting over 52 per cent from the field. Stone added averages of 6.4 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.4 steals to earn All-Star 5 honours last season.
Stone hails from Melrose, Minnesota and signed his first Big V contract with Ringwood in 2018, winning a championship in his first season at the club and the last of the three-peat.
However, after spending last season with Port that just won three games, he said it was time for a change and another ring.
“I wanted to move to a club that had a real shot at competing for a title and obviously Hume has been a powerhouse of the league lately,” he said.
“As soon as I talked to Matt [Foster] I knew it was going to be a good fit and seeing all the guys that he’s recruited and brought in, it’s a really good group of guys so I’m excited for the season to get started.”
With eight players leaving the Broncos at the end of last season, change has been at the forefront of the off season for the club. Stone said it’s an exciting change and he likes what he sees in his fellow new recruits.
“I think it’s going to be a younger team, a lot faster paced which will be a fun style to play, I think a lot of people will want to check us out as well,” he said.
“We’re just trying to get to know each other and get comfortable with each other, but it’s made it easier that everybody is a little bit new, so we’re all kind of in the same boat.”
Stone said he has made an immediate friendship with his fellow American import Malik McKinney. He said he can’t wait to see what the two of them can do together on the court.
“We live with each other being both the imports so we’ve gotten to know each other pretty well already,” he said.
“Our styles are going to mesh together perfectly. He’s extremely unselfish and sees the floor great and obviously was a big-time winner in college and he plays a winning style of basketball so I’m extremely excited to spend a year in the backcourt with him.”
Last season the Broncos lost in the grand final to McKinnon Cougars, this year Stone said it’s all about winning for him and his team.
“I’ve won a scoring championship in the league and I’ve won a team championship in the league and I tell you what it’s a lot better winning the team championship,” he said.
“I’m going to play my game but I’m just going to try to fit in and do whatever to win as many games as possible. The way that I play is conducive to winning.
“This year it’ll be a really fun group to watch and a fun group to be around.”
