Keilor Thunder’s Patrick Ryan will get his chance to train with the best having signed a development contract with the South East Melbourne Phoenix for the NBL season. Ryan returned from college in America this year and joined the Thunder line up late in the piece. The Phoenix announced he would be a training partner for the season which has just kicked off. Ryan spent the off-season as a training player with the Phoenix and was listed as a squad member for the recent NBL Blitz and Perth pre-season trips – showing enough to earn a development contract. “Definitely someone to invest into the future.”He’s the second Thunder player to receive a contract with the Phoenix this season, with Daniel Foster promoted to a full contract having initially signed a development contract.