The Dragons this week reached an agreement with Horvath to sign the sharp-shooting centre, subject to approval from the league.

Horvath, 26, joins the Dragons on a two-year deal with the option to extend his contract into a third season.

“I’m excited, I think it’s going to be a fantastic two years,” Horvath said.

“I think we have great young talent in the team and two great imports if I do say so myself.

“I’m excited to play for (South Dragons coach) Shane Heal and I’m just really looking forward to playing in Melbourne.”

Horvath made his NBL debut for the West Sydney Razorbacks in October 2004. After two seasons and 29 games for the Razorbacks, Horvath shifted west to join Adelaide for the 2006-’07 season.

Throughout his 62-game NBL career, Horvath has averaged an impressive 19.2 points, 9.1 rebounds and 1.2 assists per game.

At 208cm, Horvath will add valuable height to the South Dragons’ line-up ahead of what he tips will be a very successful year for the club.

“I think (the Dragons) will be even better than last year and last year I thought they were very good,” Horvath said.

“I was definitely keeping an eye on them last season because in Adelaide they were one of the teams we were vying for a playoff spot with and they obviously got it and we didn’t, so from our point of view they were doing a hell of a job.”

Horvath said the Dragons’ commitment to youth development was a major drawcard to the club.

“I’m excited to have a group of guys that are all focused on working hard to win and who are all young enough and gung-ho enough to give it a real shot.”

In a further bonus for the South Dragons, Horvath, currently in action for the Century City Wellington Saints in the New Zealand NBL, has applied for New Zealand citizenship.

If the application is successful Horvath will not be considered an import player in future seasons, leaving the Dragons free to explore added overseas options.
Horvath’s signing to the club will see the ex-Minnesota tall suit up alongside childhood idol and former Timberwolf, Shane Heal.

“The first thing I remember about Shane is when he used to play for the Timberwolves in Minnesota, which is where I’m from,” Horvath said.

“I used to go the games with my friends right after the Olympics in 1992 when Shane had just played all those great games. We used to go and watch him in the warm-up to see how many shots he could make in a row.

“I’m really excited to be on his team now instead of playing against him.”

With Horvath and ex-Hawks star Cortez Groves now on the South Dragons’ roster, Heal said the club had secured two of the best imports in the NBL.

“I think the major asset Nick has is that he’s the best post player in the league with his back to the basket,” he said.

“I think any time you’ve got someone with the kind of quality Nick brings from his Duke University days and somebody who can score so well inside, then he becomes somebody who, with Cortez, I think we’ve got two of the best Americans in the competition.”

Heal said Horvath would prove a key contributor to the club both on and off the court.

The South Dragons coach will look to Horvath to continue his proven record as a shooter and boost the team’s scoring power.

“When you need a basket you know that he’s somebody who can score and I think he’s proven that in the NBL,” he said.

“He’s got even more upside than what he’s shown so far so we wanted to sign him for a two-year contract and we think he’s really going to fit in with the sort of work ethic that we want to promote at the Dragons.

“We think he’ll be a real leader on the team as well.”

Heal said that while the prospect of Horvath gaining New Zealand citizenship was positive, the club was happy to have the US tall on board as an import player.

“We’re prepared to sign Nick as an American and if (the New Zealand citizenship is granted) down the track then that’s a bonus and we’ll work out what we do with that then,” he said.

Horvath joins Heal, Jacob Holmes, Brent Hobba, Joe Ingles and new recruits Groves, Brad Hill and Luke Martin in the South Dragons’ new-season line-up.