IMPOSING centre Dallin Bachynski is starting to prove a “menace” for opposition players, according to Worcester Wolves head coach Paul James.

The 7ft Canadian recorded 11 rebounds and 16 points in Wolves’ 91-78 victory over Cheshire Phoenix last Friday.

His double-double also saw him secure a place in British Basketball League’s All-Star Five for the first time.

Bachynski joined Worcester from Polish outfit Energa Czarni Slupsk and James feels the 26-year-old is beginning to come into his own.

“I think he is starting to settle in now,” James said.

“When he gets the ball we want to use all his height and be menacing under the basket at the defensive end and aggressive on the offensive end.

“He is beginning to do that now which is great because it makes it easier for the rest of the team.

“The opposition now have to start collapsing down on him which frees up our shooters.

“We weren’t doing that as well at the start of the season.

“I have seen an improvement game by game so hopefully he continues in that vein.”

James also believes Bachynski can follow in the footsteps of 6ft 10in American Maurice Walker who made a huge impact at Wolves in the second half of last season.

“It’s pivotal (to have a player that tall in your team) and everyone can see that,” James said.

“If you can get a player of that size you can be dominant.

“You only have to look at Mo last season and what he did for the team when he first came in.

“The team was transformed as you can start to play a certain way and that’s what we want with Dallin.

“He has started to show signs he can be a handful in this league. He has just got to have confidence in himself and his ability and understand we all have confidence in him.

“That’s why he is here and we are looking for him to be dominant and put in those good performances he has been doing of late.”

James said he was delighted to end a run of three straight losses in the league with a win over Cheshire and is now aiming to progress in the BBL Cup.

Wolves travel to Scotland to take on Glasgow Rocks in the quarter-final of the competition on Sunday (5pm).

“I can see players developing,” James added.

“Dallin is starting to come into his own and the other players are really stepping up as well.

“They are understanding where to receive the ball, what we want defensively and making those multiple efforts we keep talking about.”