BBL Championship winner Billy Singleton is the second player to rejoin Chester Jets.

As exclusively predicted in The Chronicle recently, the burly 35-year-old New Yorker, who helped Scottish Rocks win the title last May, joins another returnee, James Hamilton, as coach Paul Smith completes his team building for the new season, which begins at Birmingham on October 4.

Singleton, who is 6ft 7ins, is one of the most experienced BBL stars, having started his career in the UK with Birmingham in 1992 and was with the Jets from 1995-97.

He has also played with Leicester Riders (twice), winning the title with them in 2001, and has had spells in Israel, Cyprus and Ireland.

Last season, Singleton averaged 11.70 points and 7.43 rebounds per game, while his floor shooting percentage of 55.75% ranked him 10th in the BBL.

Said Smith: 'Billy is a BBL veteran who has proved he is a winner. Championships seem to follow him around.

'I know that when the game is on the line and I want someone to clog up the middle or get me a basket, I need look no further than Billy Singleton. He will be great for us.'

Smith is preparing for his first season in charge and he is pleased to have his bench completed. 'I want to take the pressure off myself,' he said. 'I have good players and now I want to make sure the chemistry is right.'

The players get together for the first time around September 23 and then Smith hopes to play two pre-season friendlies, possibly against Liverpool and Manchester Magic.

And, as also revealed exclusively in The Chronicle, the first home match for the Jets will be on Sunday, October 5 against London Towers, coached by the former Chester playcaller Robbie Peers.