Nick Nurse has begun his team re-building as Brighton Bears plan for another season of domestic and European challenges.

The Bears owner and head coach has agreed terms with Yorick Williams, the sharpshooting guard from Manchester, but confirmed Sullivan Phillips would be leaving.

Williams, such a success after signing just before last season's ULEB Cup campaign, is one of England's top players and seen as key to the European adventure, where teams must rely less heavily on American imports than they do in the British League.

He played in all ten of Bears' European games last season, averaging 20 minutes and ten points per appearance.

His contribution, in terms of scoring, to Bears' league title was 13.6 points per game, including 38 in a win over Leicester.

He also brought defensive intensity and infectious enthusiasm.

Nurse said: "Yorick had an outstanding year last season from our point of view and from his.

"He said he really enjoyed playing here, the fans loved him and I was pleasantly surprised by what he gave us.

"He's explosive and he's fun to watch."

Bears, however, are resigned to losing Phillips, so impressive at times last season in the point guard role, to London Towers.

He is expected to team up again with Rico Alderson at the Crystal Palace-based club.

Nurse said: "They have offered Sully a great deal of money, more than we were paying him."

Team building is at a very early stage throughout the league, which has been boosted by the addition of Plymouth Raiders for the coming season.

Virtually all players in the league operate on one-year deals, which means most clubs are in the same situation as Bears, who are rebuilding their team from scratch.

Even the future of skipper Randy Duck, who has just completed a three-year contract, remains a mystery at the moment.

Nurse has, however, vowed to build a team which is "bigger and better" than that which won the league last season and his track record gives every reason to believe that will be the case.

News of Bears' return to Europe has been greeted enthusiastically by followers of British basketball but those with season tickets at Brighton have double reason for cheer.

First round groups in the Europe League comprise eight teams compared to six in the ULEB Cup, which means Bears regulars will get two extra home European games for their money.

With four extra fixtures at home and away, however, the event will again stretch Bears' playing and off-court resources to the limit.

They could even qualify for a best-of-three second round tie, with four teams from each group going through.

The Europe League is not to be confused with the Euroleague operated by ULEB, which remains the continent's premier club competition.

However, the event Bears are tackling this time probably has the edge on the ULEB Cup when it comes to quality and this year's field is led by defending champions UNICS Kazan from Russia.

Their opponents in the final were Maroussi, long-time leaders of the powerful Greek league.

FIBA also had bragging rights over ULEB at the recent NBA draft when Latvian centre Andris Biedrins, who played in the Europe League for Skonto Riga last season, was signed by Golden State Warriors as the top European and 11th overall.

Nurse certainly believes Bears could be taking a step up as he awaits news from Saturday's first round draw in Munich, which he hopes will provide his first chance to coach in a competitive match in Russia.

He also highlighted financial reasons for switching competitions.

The Bears chief said: "ULEB treated us very well last year but we get more games in this competition and I think it's of equal standard or maybe just a notch better.

"There are also financial implications.

"There is no entry fee to the Europe League and for every round you advance your prize money increases."

Bears are already working with England Basketball and FIBA to help stage a division of the European Championships for under-16s at the Triangle next month and Nurse said: "It seemed like a natural link."

The under-16s event kicks off on August 6, running until August 15, and features teams from ten nations, including England.