KEY POINTS:
The Breakers have finalised their 11-strong roster for the forthcoming Australian National Basketball League (NBL) with the signings of two Americans.
Point guard Wayne Turner and power forward Rick Rickert were both United States college standouts, have National Basketball Association (NBA) experience and join the Breakers on one-year deals.
Turner, 31, led Kentucky University to two national titles.
He had a taste of the NBA with the Celtics in his native Boston in 1999/2000 before appearing for the Harlem Globetrotters.
He played under Breakers coach Andrej Lemanis in the 2002-03 season in Townsville, Queensland.
"In putting the roster together our focus was on getting the mix of local players right before targeting imports who could complement our selections and do specific roles," Lemanis said.
Rickert played in the All-American high school game in 2001 before excelling at Minnesota University where he became the first Big Ten Freshman of the Year in Minnesota's history.
Rickert, 24, chose to go into the 2003 NBA draft after just two years at college.
A surprise omission from the first round picks, he was eventually selected by the Minnesota Timberwolves as 55th overall pick.
He went on to play in Slovenia, Greece and Spain and had court time with the Detroit Pistons in the latest NBA season.
Turner is due in Auckland towards the end of next week and Rickert around August 20. Their signings are subject to NBL clearance.
The Breakers' first match of the season is against the Cairns Taipans in Auckland on September 20.
Breakers roster
Wayne Turner, Paul Henare, Brent Charleton, Kirk Penney, Phill Jones, Paora Winitana, Oscar Forman, Mika Vukona, Tony Ronaldson, Rick Rickert and Tim Behrendorff.
- NZPA
