Cheshire Phoenix have made their first signing of the summer after swooping to sign former Plymouth University Raiders point guard Josh Wilcher.

The 25-year-old has become new Phoenix head coach Colin O’Reilly’s first addition to his squad for the forthcoming campaign and arrives at the Cheshire Oaks Arena a familiar face to many Nix fans owing to his two-year spell in the BBL with the Raiders.

The 5ft 11ins Australian-born point guard has dual citizenship and previously played for Central Wyoming University in the United States. He was also named Australia’s Youth Player of the Year in 2012.

Prior to joining the Raiders he was Player of the Year for the Reading Rockets in EBL Division One and has since made a smooth transition to British basketball’s professional ranks and become one of the elite point guards in the BBL.

Nix head coach O’Reilly said: “While building a young team it was important that we also brought in experience to help the transition and Josh fits the bill for this.

“He is a very unselfish player which will help set the tone for us as far as moving the ball effectively offensively and communicating as a unit defensively.

“With Josh we also have the luxury of mixing him between the point guard and off guard spots. His ability to get in the lane and make the correct decision under pressure will help trigger a lot of our actions offensively.”

Wilcher, a fan favourite at Plymouth, left the Raiders under a cloud in February after the club refused his request to leave them before the February 29 deadline after a reported falling out with Raiders’ controversial head coach Daryl Corletto.

That led Wilcher to express his disappointment at the handling of the situation, but the experience guard will now have the chance to get back on the court and help the Nix in their quest for silverware.

He could be joined by more new faces in the near future as O’Reilly begins to move on his targets after seeing his plans to retain some of last season’s squad stymied.

Danny Huffor, who enjoyed a superb campaign in Cheshire last term, has spurned the chance to rejoin the club and has instead opted to sign for BBL rivals Worcester Wolves.

Akeem Ellis also looks set to continue his career away from the club and is expected to ink a deal with a French third-tier NM1 side in the near future.