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ADELAIDE Lightning today completed a further WNBL recruiting coup, signing 196cm rookie Opals centre Alex Bunton for the 2014-15 season.

Bunton, 20, currently is touring the USA playing against WNBA teams with Brendan Joyce’s younger Opals group and is earmarked as one of the nation’s top prospects as a “big”.

The Canberra-born centre spent 2009-2012 with the AIS and since has been with the Capitals, logging 69 WNBL games.

This season she averaged 8.7 points at 51.4%, 8.3 rebounds and 1.0 assist in a tough Canberra frontline which also included Abby Bishop and Carley Mijovic.

One of the league’s most sought free agents, Bunton joins a Lightning team under new coach Jeremi Moule and in a frontcourt already bolstered with the addition of Emma Langford (ex-Logan) and by co-captain, 2013-14 All Star and triple-Olympian Laura Hodges.

Moule said the addition of Bunton ensured the Lightning’s frontcourt could compete with the best teams in the league.

“Attracting a strong Australian centre has been a key part of the recruiting strategy for next season so we couldn't be more excited that Alex is making the move the Adelaide,” Moule said.

“Alex had a great season last year as a starter, battling against the likes of Suzy Batkovic and Gabe Richards and that experience and strong desire to continue her development will stand her in good stead for next year.

“We're really going to focus on continuing her development at both ends of the floor, building on her post and mid-range game to make sure people have to defend her all the way out to the three point line.”

Adelaide, which finished fifth last season, struggled to match it with the WNBL’s higher quality “bigs”, imports Chay Shegog inconsistent and Azania Stewart foul prone.

Neither will be back in 2014-15, leaving Moule to construct a younger and more formidable team with better quality Australian players.

Speculation the Lightning also will sign import guard Natalie Novosel, who played with Dandenong Rangers last season and now is playing in the SA SBL with Moule’s Sturt Sabres team, is predictable but unfounded.

Moule said no decision on recruiting any imports would be made until Lightning’s full Australian content was settled.

Bunton, who saw only four minutes of action in the Opals’ 66-82 loss to WNBA champion Minnesota, said she was looking forward to new experiences in Adelaide after playing all five of her WNBL seasons in her home town.

“I've had a great time playing in the ACT but I felt it was time to try new things and the Adelaide program is going to be a great fit for me,” Bunton said.

“I know I've got a lot of work to do, but I want to make a big contribution to the Lightning and make sure I continue to improve so I can be a long-term member of the Opals squad.”

Bunton almost played in the SA SBL this season with South Adelaide Panthers before deciding instead to suit with Bendigo Lady Braves in the SEABL.

She is averaging 11.6 rebounds per game for Bendigo, which is second in the SEABL to Mijovic, and 13.4 points.

Bunton will move to Adelaide once her playing commitments are complete.