St Kilda GM of Football Simon Lethlean is excited about the untapped potential of US College basketballer Sam Alabakis after he joined the Saints as a Category B rookie.
Standing at 211cm, Alabakis is now the equal tallest player in the competition alongside fellow countryman and Collingwood sensation Mason Cox and Fremantle giant Aaron Sandilands.
The 21-year-old will partake in the club’s preseason and Lethlean says he will be given every opportunity to forge a career at AFL level.
“If he can produce anything like what Mason (Cox) is producing at the moment, it would be a great result for him and the club,” Lethlean told SEN Afternoons.
“He’s a young prospect that we identified. He’s a big lad, he’s going to move across here in a couple of weeks time and be involved right at the start of preseason.
“We’re excited about where that journey will go for him and the Saints.
“He’s a development prospect who we’ll put a lot of work in to with our ruck coach and development program and see where it takes us.
“He’s excited.”
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Alabakis is itching to get his career with the Saints underway.
“I couldn’t be happier to be joining St Kilda,” he told St Kilda’s website.
“I never thought I’d get the chance to play AFL, but the club has been really encouraging and welcoming, and I can’t wait to get started and repay the faith they’ve shown in me.”
Listen to Simon Lethlean’s chat on SEN Afternoons with Kris McKenzie in the player below