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Sheffield Sharks legend Adrian Anderson has given the thumbs-up the club's proposed move for former Arrows point-guard Ryan Patton.
Patton, who played for Worthing Thunder last season, is expected to become the team's new floor leader later today.
And Anderson, who won six trophies with the Sharks between 1994 and 2000, is well placed to offer his opinion after playing alongside the American for one season with National League side Sheffield Arrows in 2004/05.
Now director of learning at Fir Vale school, Anderson said signing Patton would be a major coup for the Sharks.
"I can't speak highly enough about Ryan. From my point of view, he is the perfect point-guard. He is a great passer of the ball, but when he needs to he can take over a game and score heavily," he said.
"He's a typical floor general. If someone is slacking or not doing what they should be doing, he'll tell them straight away."
Patton, aged 30, had a good season with Worthing averaging 18 points per match and was in the BBL's top four for three-point shooting, connecting on 105 of a massive 239 attempts.
On the South Coast, Patton was expected to be the main man on the Thunder offence, a role that he is unlikely to be needed to fill in Sheffield.
He will bring a level of maturity to the Sharks team, though, that was lacking at times last year.
Anderson, who now plays for National League Division Three side Sheffield Sabres, said that if Patton did return to the city he'd be welcomed back with open arms.
"He was very popular while he was in Sheffield and he enjoyed his time here," he said.
"He worked at Abbeydale Grange school for a time when I was there and the students were gutted when he left."
If Patton does sign, it means the end to Sherman Rivers in a Sharks vest after just one season.
Meanwhile, Sharks will have at least one new opponent next season with Southend-based Essex Pirates joining the BBL.
The new franchise will play home games at the Southend Leisure & Tennis Centre and will provide one of the longest away trips for a Sharks side looking to build on their strong finish last season.
Sharks director Sarah Backovic said she welcomed Pirates into the BBL.
"It is great news that another franchise has been awarded by the BBL," she said.
""Anything that makes the league stronger is good for basketball in the UK and good for the Sharks.
"We're looking forward to travelling to Southend for the first time to take on the Pirates next season."
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Weather for Sheffield
Wednesday 23 May 2012
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