Cairns Taipans land Tahjere McCall

The CQUniversity Cairns Taipans are pleased to welcome 2021 NBA G-League Champion Tahjere McCall, signing the 26-year-old American import for one season, and filling the final restricted spot on the club’s 2021-22 roster.

The 193cm shooting guard won the G League Championship with the Lakeland Magic in March and has previously had an Exhibit 10 contract with the Atlanta Hawks and a 10-day contract with the Brooklyn Nets.

During the shortened 2021 season, McCall averaged 11.9 points, 7.4 rebounds and 3.3 assists for the Orlando-affiliate and was named to the G League’s All-Defensive team.

The experienced two-way has played for multiple G League teams, including the College Park Skyhawks and Long Island Nets under former NBL coach Will Weaver.

"This off-season, our recruitment strategy was to bring back the core group of players and add in complementary pieces, and that is Tahjere McCall.

"He’s athletic, he can score, he’ll be able to take on some of the ball-carrying weight but most importantly he is going to be that defensive weapon that we need," said Taipans Head Coach Adam Forde.

"He’s got great character – he’s articulate, well-mannered, ambitious and has a solid reputation. [Former NBL Coach] Will Weaver coached him at Long Island and attested to the fact that he is the ultimate competitor. He’s obviously just won a Championship but by all accounts, he’s a winner and will bring that winning mindset."

Hailing from Philadelphia, McCall played for Niagara University and Tennessee State during his collegiate career. In his senior year, he averaged 14.3 points, 5.1 assists, 5.0 rebounds and 2.8 steals in 32.1 minutes.

While at TSU, McCall was named the OVC Defensive Player of the Year back-to-back (2016, 2017) and made the All-OVC First Team twice.

Most recently, McCall played 18 games for Orléans Loiret Basket in France as an injury replacement, averaging 6.1 points (48.4% FGP) 3.3 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.1 steals. He is currently preparing for the 2021 NBA Summer League and has been named to the Orlando Magic roster.

McCall joins Scott Machado, Cam Oliver, Nathan Jawai, Majok Deng, Mirko Djeric, Kouat Noi, Jordan Ngatai, Jarrod Kenny and Keanu Pinder on the Taipans’ 2021-22 line-up, with one local spot remaining.