HEAD coach Paul James has lured 6ft 9ins England international forward David Watts to Worcester Wolves for the forthcoming season.

Watts, known as Tin Tin, impressed this summer for England under James with excellent performances during recent tournaments.

James said: “This is third time lucky for me. I have been a big admirer of Tin Tin for a while and have tried to sign him on two separate occasions before coming good this time around.”

Mansfield-born Watts has been one of the dominant English players in England Basketball League Division One for the last few seasons.

He was a key player in Reading Rockets’ undefeated 2008/09 side who won the EBL National Cup, National Trophy, Division One and the play-offs.

He averaged more than 18 points per game, including an impressive 45 per cent success rate from beyond the arc.

He won both the EBL Division One player-of-the-year award and the defensive player-of-the-year accolade in that season.

Last season saw him move on to Manchester Magic where he collected runners-up medals in the National Cup, National Trophy and EBL Division One before helping them win the play-offs.

Once again, he won the defensive player-of-the-year award.

James added: “Tin Tin is one of the best English players never to have played in the British Basketball League and I’m looking forward to him showing his full array of skills in a Wolves shirt this season.

“David has been a big-time player in Division One of the EBL and has titles to back that up.

“He is a prolific scorer, good defensively and has great athleticism.

“The time is right for him to play at the highest level that the UK has to offer and I’m delighted it’s with me at Worcester Wolves.”