Having played his college basketball at NCAA powerhouse Temple University and taken in stints in both the NBA’s D-League and Summer Leagues, Dustin Salisbery knows a thing or two about talent on the court.

But the Cheshire Phoenix guard says his current team-mates at the Northgate Arena are the finest he has played with professionally.

The 30-year-old joined up with head coach John Coffino’s side last month and has gone on to establish himself as a key part of the Nix starting five that has posted three wins on the spin and remains in the hunt for the BBL Championship title.

Salisbery said: “We have a good team. Probably the best team talent wise I’ve been on professionally.

“Everything is great. The fan support is phenomenal and the league is better than I expected. There are some talented players that are here playing well.

“But the whole club is great. Very professional.”

Salisbery had been playing his basketball in Iceland’s top division for UMFN Njardvik where he averaged 25.5 points and 8.5 rebounds per game, hitting 44 points in his final game.

After graduating from Temple in 2007, the 6ft 5ins Philadelphia native played in the D-League with the Delaware 86ers and in the Summer League with the Philadelphia 76ers and Los Angeles Clippers.

He first got to know Coffino in 2012 when the pair met at an LA Lakers D-League private workout, where Salisbery was held in high regard by the Nix coach.

“Coach has known me since my college days,” said Salisbery, who has also played professionally in Australia, Greece, Germany, France, Mexico and Romania.

“In 2012 I officially met him in Los Angeles at the LA Lakers D-League team private workout where he ranked me a top three player there.

“We’ve kept in contact ever since. When the opportunity presented itself, we made it happen.”

An off-guard by trade, Salisbery has had to take on the role of chief ball handler in recent weeks in the absence of regular point guard Mike DiNunno.

But now DiNunno is back in the fold Salisbery believes that the Nix are a force to be reckoned with offensively.

“Sharing the point guard spot and off guard spot is good for me,” he said.

“It’s challenges our opposition because I’m a big guard. With Mike it gives us a spark both offensively and defensively.”

Having had time to bed in to his new surroundings, Salisbery has set his sights on success and is bullish about his team’s chances of breaking Newcastle Eagles’ stranglehold at the top of the BBL, saying that the win over Plymouth demonstrated their mental toughness.

“It’s a long trip - six hours - and our legs and bodies hurt getting off the bus but you have to be mentally strong. That’s what we did,” said Salisbery, who was touted as a potential NBA draft pick out of college.

“We have a good team and great coaching. We work hard and our goal is nothing less than a BBL championship. I think our chances are great.”