Come Reyne or shine: Cairns backs young Boomer

The Cairns Taipans announced on Monday that they have exercised sharpshooter Reyne Smith’s club option for the NBL27 season.

Smith signed his first professional contract with Cairns on a two-year deal, after playing college basketball with the Charleston Cougars and Louisville Cardinals.

The Australian Boomer, who recently completed his second stint with the national team in February, remains one of the country's emerging basketball stars.

The 23-year-old played 14 games during an injury-plagued rookie NBL season, averaging 9.9 points, 2.1 rebounds and 1.3 assists per contest.

The Tasmanian joined Joe Ingles and Patty Mills as the only Australians in the past 35 years to debut in the NBL with at least four made three-pointers.

Smith joins fellow Boomer Jack McVeigh on the Snakes’ roster for the Hungry Jack’s NBL27 campaign.