IMPORT Roy Booker will extend his worldwide basketball trek to Australia when he suits up for Ballarat Miners in the South East Australia Basketball League next year.
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The American swingman will join the Subaru Miners after a season in France’s Pro B league.
As well as his homeland of the United States, and France, Booker, 27, has played in Israel, Austria and Syria.
The Miners have signed Booker on the recommendation of former import and most valuable player Drake Reed, who played in Ballarat in 2010. Reed has also played in France.
Booker, who averaged 19.1 points a game at 50 per cent in France, has been recruited for his scoring prowess.
He will replace Keena Young after one year with the Miners.
Booker is the second new key signing for Ballarat, following on the heels of 208-centimetre Liam Gibcus.
Gibcus is originally from Melbourne and will line up with the Miners after four years at the University of Alaska Anchorage.
Ballarat head coach David Flint said Booker’s scoring power added substantially to the Miners’ roster.
“Roy brings a wealth of professional experience to our group and has been a proven prolific scorer at every level he has played.
“We expect his impact on the SEABL will be immediate.
“He’s a tremendous shooter with range, understands how to operate the screen and roll and has the ability to get to the free-throw line, putting enormous amount of pressure on the opposing players,” Flint said.
“He will no doubt make the other players on the floor better and be a tremendous asset for our starting point guard Anthony Fisher along with Ash Constable.
Booker will arrive in Australia in mid-February in time to play in several pre-season games.
The Miners are also in negotiations with a tall centre from overseas.
david.brehaut@fairfaxmedia.com.au
