Ray the Rocket signs up for big season as power forward

MCDONALDS Rockhampton Rockets may have lost Stephen Weigh, but they're gaining a superstar.

Rockhampton Rockets yesterday announced the signing of new American import Ray Turner for the 2014 Queensland Basketball League season.

Standing at a staggering 206cm tall (6ft 9in), Turner was described as an athletic power forward with the ability to score inside the key.

Turner boasts four years of college basketball experience at the University of Texas A&M in the prestigious SEC conference and was expected to excite Rockets fans with his explosive power around the rim.

McDonalds Rockhampton Rockets coach Neal Tweedy said after leading his team in rebounding, ranking in the top 20 all-time at Texas A&M and playing professionally in Cyprus, Turner was just what the Rockets were looking for.

"As people are aware of, we go through a lot of processes when we recruit players and I feel Ray ticks all the boxes of what we were looking for," Tweedy said.

"He is an explosive athlete and with his size and power, we are expecting him to dominate rebounds and be a great team player.

"He gives us good size across our frontline with Michael Kingma and will fit our style of basketball.

"He is used to exciting 13,000 fans at his college arena so I think our fans will enjoy his exciting style of basketball."

Turner is due to arrive in the Beef Capital to begin pre-season preparations in about six weeks time.