The Wollongong Hawks' chances of keeping gun import Gary Ervin are firming by the minute after the playmaker's agent yesterday declared a new deal a "slam dunk".New York-based Marquis Taylor gave the strongest indication yet the off-contract point guard would remain in Wollongong - before making a mercy dash back to the US to be with his sick grandmother. Taylor arrived last Friday to start negotiations with outgoing Hawks CEO Wayne Morris, but was forced to cut short his stay after his grandmother suffered a heart attack.
Full coverage of the Hawks Despite the interruption Taylor believed the MVP contender would sign for next season within the next month."I think it will be a slam dunk," Taylor said."It won't take much to keep him here."I think something will be signed within the next month."Taylor will continue talks with Morris - whose two-year tenure as CEO will end on April 30 - and head coach Gordie McLeod after he arrives back in the States."It's not going to be a long, drawn-out process," Taylor said."They have been great to Gary."Gary loves the Gong and they love Gary."The Hawks are the only NBL club that can bargain with the Brooklyn-born playmaker until a fortnight after the championship series.Ervin, 27, was a revelation in his first season Down Under, which ended with a 86-70 triumph over arch-rivals Sydney last Sunday.The Hawks have a bye next week, but Ervin is likely to finish second in the league in points (20.1 per game) and fourth in assists (4.5 per game).He will return to the US early next month - but wants to talk to his family before committing for 2011-12."It's going to be when I get back home, I'm gonna get home and speak to my family," he said.The University of Arkansas graduate admitted a long-term contract would sweeten the deal."I don't know that many imports who get more than one year," he said."It would be nice, a little bit of job security."Ervin declared Wollongong's settled roster - six players are signed for next year - would sway his decision."Most of the people are coming back, the front office people are coming back," Ervin said."That helps when you make a decision."It shows a lot about the program."Ervin was also flattered to be labelled the "biggest piece of the puzzle" in next year's title charge, by Hawks legend Glen Saville."Coming from someone like that who's a veteran and a great person and a great team-mate, it means a lot," he said."It's awesome to hear something like that. I've only been here for a few months but I look up to him as a player and a person."I know you can have imports who are very cocky or arrogant, I come off like that on the court."Off the court I'm a totally different person and it makes it easier to gel with the guys."It's made it easier and it's made my decision a bit easier."
