WORCESTER Wolves have signed “exciting” American point guard George Beamon, but last season’s captain Marek Klassen has decided to leave.

Klassen, 25, who played a key role in Wolves’ impressive finish to the 2016/17 British Basketball League campaign has been snapped up by Turkish side Bakirkoy Basket.

However head coach Paul James is thrilled to have captured ex-NBA D-League player Beamon from Iceland Dominos League team AK Thor Akureyri.

Last term the 26-year-old, who can also play at forward, came in the top 10 scorers in the league, averaging 20.9 points per game.

“Beamon is a player who can score in many different ways and I really like that he has this ability to create not only good scoring opportunities for his teammates,” James said.

“But is really good at creating his own scoring opportunities as well.

“He will be equally exciting at the defensive end of the court. Standing at 6ft 4in he is a big guard and excellent athlete who takes pride in his defence. He is a real solid rebounder that has the mental toughness we want to see at Wolves.”

Beamon graduated NCAA Division 1 Manhattan College in 2014 as the fourth highest scorer in Manhattan College history.

He caught the eye of NBA Development League team Oklahoma City Blue before transferring to Texas Legends during the 2014/15 season. The following campaign he played for Plaza Fernando Valerio in the Dominican Republic Santiago League.

Beamon said: "I am eager to start the season and to help lead the Wolves to a title. I have been training relentlessly and am confident that the fans will be pleased with what I bring to the table. I look forward to meeting my coaches, teammates and all of the fans in the Wolfpack."

Beamon joins fellow summer signings Trayvon Palmer and Brandon Parrish as well as Ashton Khan and Alejandro Navajas who agreed to stay.

Klassen, Danny Huffor, Andrew Bachman and Trevor Setty have departed, while the futures of Maurice Walker, Jermel Kennedy and Trey Zeigler remain unclear.

Wolves will play in the first-ever British Basketball All-Stars Championship at the O2 Arena on September 24.

They then face London Lions in their opening British Basketball League game of the season on September 29 at the University of Worcester Arena.