Giants sign Clayton from Georgia State in US

MANCHESTER Giants have continued building for the new BBL season with the signing of American forward Willie Clayton.

Clayton, 25, who hails from Thomasville, Georgia, and stands at 6’8”, is the fifth confirmed member of the Giants roster for 2018/19 alongside Callum Jones, Ingus Bankevics, Vlatko Granic and Mike McCall Jr.

He said: “I’m pretty excited to come over. It’s the perfect move for my future. The BBL is a great league and it gives me a chance to compete as the best.

“I try to be dominant, a grinder and I work hard. I dive on the floor and do all the dirty work that maybe other players don’t want to do, I outwork everyone and everybody and that’s how I’ve always been.

“I’m expecting to win. I’m a winner. I’m a competitor. I know last year didn’t turn out how the coach and the club wanted, but that’s why he’s doing things different this summer, and it will be a lot different next season.

“I’m looking forward to working with everybody at the club and making sure we do the business on and off the court.”

Giants coach Danny Byrne said: “Willie is very strong, uses his body extremely well in the post, and scores at a high percentage around the rim.

“Offensively he is a very clever and powerful player in the paint. Importantly, we think he will form a strong front court partnership with Vlatko (Granic) as they have very different, complementary, skillsets.

“Willie is a very mature player, as one of the captains on his team at Georgia State, and with two professional campaigns already under his belt.

“Defensively, again, he uses his size and physicality, gets in good positions to take charges, and generally puts it on the line for his team.

“We have looked for highcharacter individuals this year who will fight through adversity as one and represent Giants and what we stand for in the right way.

“Willie sums that up, with an attitude and work ethic that is second to none. Our fans will love him.”