A third member of last season's squad has signed up for the 2009/10 campaign for Jelson Homes DMU Leicester Riders.
Popular Irishman Isaac Westbrooks joins fellow returnees Barry Lamble and LaTaryl Williams on Rob Paternostro's roster.
The 24-year-old was voted Player of the Season by the Riders' fans after excelling in the starting point guard role. Westbrooks had begun the year as the back-up guard but finished it playing 40-minutes per game.
"Isaac is a young player who I thought improved tremendously as the season went on," Paternostro stated. "From the moment I watched him play in the summer last year I knew there was something special about the kid because he had poise beyond his years.
"Not only is he a player you can go to war with during games, but in practice as well he plays hard every day. I expect him to improve again because I thought at the end of the year he really turned in some solid games, not only offensively but defensively as well. He is the kind of guy who is versatile enough on the defensive end to guard a couple of different types of player. I'm looking forward to having back."
Westbrooks averaged 6.5 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists and 1.5 steals per game in his first season in the BBL and his all round contribution was probably what swayed the fans to vote for him.
"I thought that was something special and I know Isaac was touched to receive that award. The Riders' fans are the most knowledgeable in the BBL and they saw the kind of intangibles that he brought to the game. Isaac wasn't the leading scorer, the highest rebounder or the top assist guy a lot of the time, but when you look back at the tapes he had a great deal to do with the wins that we had."
Source: www.bbl.org.uk
