BRADFORD Dragons Basketball Club are welcoming back American Ricky Fetske for the upcoming National Basketball League Division One campaign.

The power forward returns for his sixth season in the Dragons Den, having first joined for the 2012/13 season, before moving on for a season at Team Northumbria before returning to West Yorkshire for the 2014/15 season, with Leeds Force in the franchised British Basketball League.

In November 2015, Dragons Head Coach, Chris Mellor, persuaded Fetske to make the move back down the M606 to re-join the Dragons, and the New Jersey big-man has been a key member of the Bradford Club ever since.

During the 2018/19 season, Fetske averaged 17 points and 11.1 rebounds per game, averaging a double-double for the second season in a row.

The player will once again combine his playing duties with spearheading the clubs outreach work into local primary and secondary schools, in his off-court position as the Clubs Schools and Community Coaching Co-ordinator.

Mellor commented, “It’s great to have Ricky back again. He brings a consistent level of performance and his ability to play inside or on the perimeter is a big positive. His professionalism, especially with regards to practice, sets a great tone for others to follow.”

Fetske said, “Going into my sixth season with the Dragons, I hope to provide leadership and do everything I can to help the team succeed. We have a strong core of returning players and our coaching staff have done a fantastic job, bringing in talented and hard-working players to bolster our roster.

“It has been a productive off-season for me and I am ready to continue competing at a high level with Bradford. I am looking forward to seeing our fans in the Dragons Den.”

The Dragons kick off their pre-season with a visit to Manchester Magic on Sunday, September 15 (tip-off 5:30pm).

Magic, who have been a major force in the National Basketball League for many years, dropped out of the top-flight last season, following a disappointing campaign, but will be keen to bounce back at the first time of asking.

The league action starts on Saturday, September 28 with a trip to Uxbridge College to face the Thames Valley Cavaliers.