Levett Essex Leopards have pulled off a major coup with the signing for British guard Bode Adeluola.

The 26-year-old joins after five seasons with the Big Cats’ Division One rivals Hemel Storm where he averaged 16.5points and 4.9 assists per game last season. Having come through the successful London Mets programme, Adeluola also had a brief spell in France with Calais Basket Cheminots at the start of the 2014/15 season.

Leopards' coach Steve Ogunjimi is delighted with his new signing: "To have Bode coming into the team is a massive addition" he said.

"After losing Albert [Margai] to Surrey this summer, I knew I had to replace him with a proven point guard to run the team and Bode is definitely proven in this league.

"With his ability to handle and take care of the ball, get the ball to the right guy at the right time and put the ball in the basket from all angle himself, we have a player who will allow out team to compete at a high level, game in, game out."

Adeluola is excited to join the Big Cats: "After spending five good years at Hemel and going into a new chapter in my life I couldn't think of a better team than Essex to start this new venture with.

"They're a solid organisation with great fans and a winning history. With an already strong team I hope to fit in quite nicely into the picture. Let's do this Leopards!!!"

The newest Leopard suffered a knee injury during pre-season and is a doubt for Sunday's trip to London Lituanica but is expected to be fit for the opening league game at Northumbria, on October 9.