Brighton Bears today told Ryan Huntley he has a big part to play in their title bid, despite being ruled out for the rest of the season.

Huntley lost his spot on the Bears roster to Cheyne Gadson after breaking a bone in his left foot. The club remain keen, however, to keep the popular Texan on board in an off-court capacity.

Among the roles he could play are scouting, office and public relations work, coaching youngsters and mentoring Gadson, a BBL rookie who knows nothing about the guards he will face or the venues he will play at.

Bears coach Nick Nurse has described Huntley as the best point guard he has ever coached.

He said: "It's wide open for Ryan to stay here and help. I think he should stay, do his re-habilitation the best he can and give us any kind of help he can.

"He's an intelligent guy who has been around the league. He can share a lot of information about other guards and venues in the league. We will also talk about next season. I would like him back but there is a long way to go before then."

Nurse is prepared to help Huntley get a place in the USBL, a high-calibre league which runs in the States during the summer.

Huntley enjoys living in the Brighton area and gets on well with his team-mates so would be receptive to offers to stay at the club. He said: "The main thing I'm concentrating on now is getting healthy. I still go to the gym and try to keep in shape."

Huntley, Nurse and their Bears colleagues will be giving youngsters the chance to hone their basketball skills during half-term week.

Bears are staging four-day coaching clinics for boys and girls aged seven to 17 at Dorothy Stringer School and Battle Leisure Centre. The courses run from Monday to Thursday (10am-3pm each day). They cost £60 for the week with more details available at brightonbears.com or on (01273) 697400.