Dan Jackson.
NBL
Dominant big men in the NBL might soon be extinct.
Only six genuine seven-footers remain in the league and two of those - 212cm Dan Johnson and 216cm Luke Schenscher - are with Adelaide.
Melbourne have 211cm Matt Burston, Sydney boasts 210cm Ian Crosswhite, New Zealand have 215cm Alex Pledger, while 211cm Ben Allen mans the middle for Townsville.
But title favourites Perth have 204cm Matt Knight as their starting centre and 207cm Cam Tragardh is the main man up front for Cairns.
Wollongong are one of three teams without a seven-footer and the formula seems to suit them if their impressive 2-0 start is any indication.
"It's not a league where you just throw it into the big guy on the block like it might've been in the past. The game's evolved so much," Hawks forward Dan Jackson said ahead of Sunday's home game against Townsville.
"The fact is we've got a small league and a lot of the time the guy in the four-spot has to handle the ball and be a shooter.
"You just have to look at Ossie [Hawks forward Oscar Forman], probably the best shooter in the league playing the four-spot.
"While it is nice to have a big guy you can throw it into, and we do have that with guys like [Dave] Gruber and Larry, it's not a league where you throw it into the post on every possession.
"It's all about guards penetrating and kicking, and big guys picking and popping."
The Hawks finished second-last in 2011-12 and eyebrows were raised when the club re-signed eight players.
But after finishing second and fifth the previous two seasons, it appears they only needed a minor tune-up to re-emerge as a top four contender.
"We underachieved last year," 19th-year forward Glen Saville said.
"We definitely had our hiccups with imports and the odd injury, but it was probably more a mental thing.
"I've been part of Hawks teams that have had a lot of success over the years and it's difficult when you get a few tough times.
"We re-signed eight of last year's players and the challenge is there for us to be better than we were last year, and even possibly be much better and make it to the post-season."
Lining up for Townsville on Sunday will be former Hawks import and 2011 NBL MVP Gary Ervin.
Wollongong guard Adris Deleon islooking forward to their head-to-head matchup.
Tip-off is at 4pm.