Geraldton Buccaneers have secured one of their two restricted players for the 2013 State Basketball League season.

The Buccs signed American Spencer Perrin last Friday who is expected to arrive in Australia in January or early February.

Buccaneers coach Ray Evans said the 198cm Eastern Kentucky graduate would add versatility to the team.

“He is a real athlete, can jump and run the floor well,” he said.

“He averaged about 13 points per game in division one college basketball and he will be able to play anywhere from positions two-to-four.”

Perrin played two seasons at Eastern Kentucky in division one basketball before a stint in Hungary and Slovakia.

The 24-year-old averaged more than 13 points per game and five rebounds in his final year at college.

The signing comes after two seasons of less then perfect runs with imports for the Buccs.

American Todd Brown was signed by the Buccs in 2011 but was injured during the preseason causing him to miss the start the season.

Last season’s signing Morgan Sabia also missed a large part of the season after difficulties with immigration papers and injury.

Evans said signing Perrin and having him in Geraldton with plenty of time before the season would be a big boost for the squad.

“It was absolutely a focus of ours to get the signings done early and preferably before Christmas,” he said.

“Last year Morgan was not here until later in the season and that snowballed into the year.”

Evans said he hopes to have the second restricted player slot filled by Christmas.

He said the team were in negotiations with a former SBL player but did not give out a name.

The Buccaneers had their first training session of the season yesterday.

Players were greeted with a three kilometre time trial around the little athletics track.

Article by Taylor Courtland (Geraldton Guardian)

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