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SYDNEY now looks likely to back new playmaking import Jesse Sanders - no relation to Patrick - with a second American option from the SEABL competition.

Sanders, 24 and a 191cm Texan, is a product of Liberty University where he started in 124 of 127 games and in 2011 was the Big South Conference Player of the Year.

He joins the Kings fresh from a stint with Fileni BPA Jesi in the strong Italian League's second division but it was at Liberty that Sanders made his name.

"The Colonel" completed his college career as Liberty's all-time assists leader and his senior year assists average of 8.0 was No.3 in the nation for Division 1 players.

He also finished top 10 nationally in assists-to-turnover ratio. In his senior year, Sanders led Liberty in rebounding, assists, steals and free throw percentage.

Named to the All Big South First Team in 2011 and 2012, his collegiate career honors started with selection in the Big South All Freshman team in 2009.

"We feel like we needed someone who can score but primarily we needed someone who can be our best defender and is capable of getting shots for guys like Ben Madgen, AJ Ogilvy and James Harvey," Kings coach Shane Heal said.

"I believe Jesse can do that for our team."

With Sydney's lineup taking shape, Heal will review some of the SEABL's better imports at the Kings' development camp in a couple of weeks, essentially searching for someone who can play the shooting guard/small forward role and defend 1, 2 and 3-men.

"After watching a lot of games of Jesse playing in Italy – which is a big thing given it’s a high standard league in Europe – I feel like he’s going to be a fantastic defender, a great creator in terms of getting other people shots, a terrific rebounder and a very capable scorer," Heal said.

"I think he’s just a good all-around player who really fits with the traits of what we are developing at the Kings. He brings great leadership and he really ticks all of the boxes we need."

Sanders said he was thrilled with the opportunity to play Down Under for the Kings.

"It’s a dream for me to play professional basketball but especially so to do it in a place like Sydney," Sanders said.

"It’s a great opportunity and a real blessing.

"My agent told me I had a tremendous offer from a team in Australia, that it was a great organisation with a big-time coach with a great resume and that they were very interested in me.

"After researching the team and the league I became very excited about the offer, but what really closed the deal for me was a conversation I had with Coach Heal.

"He’s knowledgeable and passionate about what he does, and that passion is kind of what I’m like as a player. He’s the type of coach I want to play for.

"I think one of my biggest strengths offensively is being able to create for my teammates. I can penetrate to the rack and finish myself or kick it out to the open shooters."

New Boomer Ben Madgen and shooting guard James Harvey will be rubbing their hands in eager anticipation.

With 211cm Aussie centre A.J. Ogilvy arguably the recruiting coup of the off-season, Sydney is putting together solid pieces in its bid to build on 2012-13's return to the playoffs.

American forward Darnell Lazare has signed with reigning champion New Zealand while his import running mate at the Kings last season, Corin Henry, is a free agent.