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Taran Armstrong

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Taran Armstrong
No. 1 – Cairns Taipans
PositionGuard
LeagueNBL
Personal information
Born (2002-01-15) 15 January 2002 (age 22)
NationalityAustralian
Listed height196 cm (6 ft 5 in)
Listed weight88 kg (194 lb)
Career information
High schoolMarist Regional College
(Burnie, Tasmania)
CollegeCalifornia Baptist (2021–2023)
NBA draft2024: undrafted
Playing career2018–present
Career history
2018–2020BA Centre of Excellence
2021North-West Tasmania Thunder
2023–presentCairns Taipans
Career highlights and awards
  • Second-team All-WAC (2023)
  • WAC Freshman of the Year (2022)

Taran Armstrong (born 15 January 2002) is an Australian professional basketball player for the Cairns Taipans of the National Basketball League (NBL). He played two seasons of college basketball in the United States for the California Baptist Lancers before joining the Taipans in 2023.

Early life and career

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Growing up in Burnie, Tasmania, Armstrong was exposed to basketball at an early age due to his father, Ben, playing semi-professionally for the Wynyard Wildcats in the North West Basketball Union (NWBU) along with his uncle, Ben's brother Sam. Armstrong started playing organised basketball at around five or six years old and was heavily influenced by watching his father and uncle play together.[1][2]

Armstrong attended Marist Regional College in Burnie.[3] He played in the NWBU for Burnie and Wynyard[4] before moving to Canberra in mid 2018 after being awarded a NBA Global Academy scholarship with Basketball Australia's Centre of Excellence.[5] Armstong played four games for the BA Centre of Excellence in the South East Australian Basketball League in 2018, five games in the NBL1 in the 2019 season, and two games in the Waratah League in 2020.[6] He also helped Tasmania claim a bronze medal at the 2020 Under 20 National Championships after averaging 25 points per game.[7][8]

In 2021, Armstrong played seven games for the North-West Tasmania Thunder in the NBL1 South.[6]

College career

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In November 2020, Armstrong signed with the California Baptist Lancers for the 2021–22 season.[8] He joined his older brother Tre on the team.[7]

As a freshman in 2021–22, Armstrong played in 26 games for the Lancers, making 25 starts and averaging 10.5 points, 5.2 rebounds and 6.3 assists in 32.2 minutes per game.[9] His 6.3 assists per game led the nation's freshmen class and was fifth among all players, and he became the eighth freshman in the NCAA men's basketball history to average at least 10 points, five rebounds, and six assists in a single season.[10] He recorded the program's first triple-double with 16 points, 12 assists and 10 rebounds against San Jose State on 18 November; had a career-high 11 rebounds against San Diego Christian on 27 November; broke the program record for single-game assists with 15 against North Dakota on 7 December; and scored a season-high 22 points against Utah Valley on 26 February.[10] He was subsequently named the WAC Freshman of the Year, the first in program history.[11] Armstrong and his brother helped the Lancers to an 18–16 record on the season.[12]

As a sophomore in 2022–23, Armstrong played and started in all 33 games for the Lancers, averaging 11.3 points, 4.5 rebounds and 5.0 assists in 29.5 minutes per game.[9] He led CBU in scoring and assists and led the WAC in assists per game for the second straight year. He recorded four 20-point games on the season, including a career-high 25 points against Southern Utah on 1 February 2023.[10] He was subsequently named to the All-WAC Second Team.[10]

In April 2023, Armstrong initially entered the NCAA transfer portal,[13] but later decided to forgo the remainder of his NCAA eligibility to start his professional career in Australia.[14][15]

Professional career

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On 17 May 2023, Armstrong signed a two-year contract with the Cairns Taipans of the National Basketball League (NBL).[16][17] A foot injury delayed his start to the 2023–24 NBL season.[18] He played in 23 games and averaged 7.7 points, 4 rebounds and 2.7 assists across 21 minutes per game.[19]

During the 2024 off-season, Armstrong was an auto-entrant in the 2024 NBA draft, and was then a prime candidate for a two-way contract. He was named to the All-Camp Team of the 2024 Adidas Eurocamp, and worked out for almost a dozen NBA teams.[20]

Armstrong returned to the Taipans for the 2024–25 NBL season but missed the first two rounds with a calf injury.[1] He helped the Taipans to two wins in round three before being sidelined again with an ankle injury.[1][21] He returned to action in round eight,[1] with the team having gone 0–6 in that time.[22]

National team career

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In 2019, Armstrong represented Australia at the FIBA Under-17 Oceania Championship, where he helped his country win the gold medal with 11 points per game.[7]

Armstrong played for the Australia at the 2021 FIBA Under-19 Basketball World Cup, 2022 FIBA Asia Cup qualifiers, and 2025 FIBA Asia Cup qualifiers.[23]

Personal life

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Armstrong is the son of Benjamin and Melanie Armstrong. He has two siblings, Tre and Tanner.[10] Tre signed with the Tasmania JackJumpers in 2023[24] but later requested to be released from his contract.[25]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d Hersz, Tom (9 November 2024). "Taran Armstrong has no fear". NBL Official Website. Retrieved 10 November 2024.
  2. ^ Shephard, Shannon (8 November 2011). "The next generation". The Advocate. Retrieved 10 November 2024.
  3. ^ Kalori 2015 (PDF). Marist Regional College. p. 99. Retrieved 11 November 2024.
  4. ^ "Close season tipped". The Advocate. 8 February 2018. Retrieved 10 November 2024.
  5. ^ "Scholarship for Armstrong". The Advocate. 27 July 2018. Retrieved 10 November 2024.
  6. ^ a b "Taran Armstrong, Basketball Player, News, Stats - australiabasket". Eurobasket LLC. Retrieved 10 November 2024.
  7. ^ a b c "Armstrong to join brother in US college system". The Advocate. 24 August 2020. Retrieved 10 November 2024.
  8. ^ a b "Lancers Land #2 Prospect From Australia". CBU Athletics. 11 November 2020. Retrieved 10 November 2024.
  9. ^ a b "Taran Armstrong College Stats". College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved 10 November 2024.
  10. ^ a b c d e "Taran Armstrong - Men's Basketball". CBU Athletics. Retrieved 10 November 2024.
  11. ^ "Armstrong Named WAC Freshman Of The Year". CBU Athletics. 7 March 2022. Retrieved 10 November 2024.
  12. ^ "Armstrong brothers eager to achieve college dream". The Advocate. 16 May 2022. Retrieved 10 November 2024.
  13. ^ "Armstrong set to embark on next chapter in college basketball career". The Advocate. 11 April 2023. Retrieved 10 November 2024.
  14. ^ "Taran Armstrong Signs Professional Contract in Australia". CBU Athletics. 18 April 2023. Retrieved 10 November 2024.
  15. ^ Uluc, Olgun (29 April 2023). "Sources: College star Armstrong joins Taipans". ESPN.com. Retrieved 10 November 2024.
  16. ^ "Taipans secure Taran Armstrong". Cairns Taipans | Official NBL Website. 17 May 2023. Retrieved 10 November 2024.
  17. ^ McInerney, Matthew (17 May 2023). "Taran Armstrong reveals why he chose to sign with Cairns Taipans". cairnspost.com.au. Retrieved 10 November 2024.
  18. ^ "Armstrong Cairns' "head of the snake"". NBL Official Website. 16 August 2024. Retrieved 10 November 2024.
  19. ^ ""Sky the limit" for main man Armstrong". NBL Official Website. 31 August 2024. Retrieved 10 November 2024.
  20. ^ Uluc, Olgun (8 October 2024). "High risk, high reward: Why the Taipans are building around Taran Armstrong". ESPN.com. Retrieved 10 November 2024.
  21. ^ "Star Taipan's injury setback". NBL Official Website. 18 October 2024. Retrieved 10 November 2024.
  22. ^ "Injury update: Key Snake returns". NBL Official Website. 9 November 2024. Retrieved 10 November 2024.
  23. ^ "Taran Armstrong player in Australia (AUS)". FIBA. Retrieved 10 November 2024.
  24. ^ "Tassie Tre ready to rep home colours". Tasmania JackJumpers | Official NBL Website. 18 May 2023. Retrieved 10 November 2024.
  25. ^ "Tre Armstrong Departs JackJumpers". NBL Official Website. 6 July 2023. Retrieved 11 November 2024.
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