Flyers Complete Signing Of Leslee Smith

The 6ft 8in forward joins the club from Olimpi Tbilisi in Georgia’s top flight, where he made 17 appearances last season, averaging 18.3 points and 11.6 rebounds per game.

The 25-year-old previously played NCAA Division One basketball at Nebraska in the ‘Big Ten’ conference.

“I am very pleased to have signed with the Bristol Flyers,” Smith told bristolflyers.co.uk.

“I had a couple of video chats with Coach Kapoulas where he told me what his expectations are for this season. He wants us to make a play-off run this year and I’m ready to help the team as much as I can.”

Smith also represented the British Virgin Islands at the 2014 FIBA Caribbean Basketball Championships in Tortola, averaging 7.6 points and 4.3 rebounds per game.

Smith, who holds a British passport, becomes the second new recruit to commit to Kapoulas' side, following the addition of Australian forward Michael Vigor just seven days ago.

Speaking to bristolflyers.co.uk, assistant coach Nick Burns said: “What stood out about Leslee was that he played a lot of minutes in a very strong programme at Nebraska.

“He’s got a great skill set for a big man, and will give us a strong physical presence on the court.

“He has a British connection and I think he’ll be very hungry to prove himself in the BBL this season.”

Smith is now the sixth player registered to Bristol Flyers for the 2016/17 season, joining Greg Streete, Roy Owen, Jordan Ranklin, Chris Bourne and Vigor.

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