Jeremy Kendle keeps the faith

IT'S taken longer than many people, including his former coach, expected but Jeremy Kendle is officially an NBL player.

The former Bendigo Brave has been signed by the Brisbane Bullets for the remainder of the 2016-17 season.

Kendle, who won the SEABL most valuable player award in the Braves' 2016 national championship season, will hit the court for the first time in a Bullets uniform on Friday night against Illawarra Hawks.

He will lock horns with former Braves teammate Kevin White, who is in his second season with the Hawks.

Braves coach Ben Harvey has backed Kendle to have a massive impact on a Bullets team aiming to play finals in their first year back in the league since 2008.

"He really made an impact in our town, on the court and off the court, and we knew that we wouldn't be able to have him back this year because he felt he could go on to bigger and better things," Harvey said.

"He's persevered and he's made it.

"He's now got eight games to play to qualify (for finals), now his job is to make a real impact in the NBL which I am confident he can."

Harvey, a three-time SEABL national championship player, said he was surprised Kendle had not been signed by an NBL club sooner, but conceded it was much to do with "timing".

The former Bellarmine University standout excited from interest from several NBL clubs during his season with the Braves without any firm offers eventuating.

Even this deal with the Bullets was close to not coming to fruition after Kendle strained a calf in practice in the lead-up to side's New Year's Eve clash against Cairns Taipans.

But once he was ruled fit, Kendle and the Bullets quickly agreed to a deal.

The 29-year-old is no stranger to Queensland having played for Toowoomba Mountaineers in the Queensland Basketball League before joining the Braves.

He was the league MVP in his sole season with Toowoomba and has also played professionally in Morocco and Switzerland.

Harvey said Kendle's story was one of remarkable perseverance and overcoming adversity.

"You look at how many injuries, how many setbacks he's had, it's quite amazing," he said.

"His recent calf injury when he was on the verge of signing with Brisbane was just another of those setbacks.

"It's a great story - I couldn't be happier for him.

"Jeremy has great belief in himself, (but) he can absolutely play at this level 100 per cent. There's no doubt."

Harvey said any discussion on the best imports to have played for the Braves had to include Jeremy Kendle.

The Indiana native averaged 27.7 points per game and 6.6 rebounds in his stint with the Braves.