Brighton Bears have signed one of their play-off final tormentors as they plan for Europe.

Philip Perre, the 6ft 6in forward whose work close to the basket helped Scottish Rocks hold off Bears in the BBL Championship final in May, is heading south on a one-year deal.

Perre, 24, is rated one of the brightest talents in the British game.

He is certain to be joined by at least one more English player as Bears build their squad within stringent limitations on non-EU players.

Coach Nick Nurse will be able to field just two Americans, plus two dual nationals, for his side's ten ULEB Cup group games next season.

Mike Brown is almost certain to be one of those dual nationals though he has yet to put pen to paper.

Perre came through his local youth set-up at Ealing and had one game for London Leopards in 1998-99 before enjoying a successful first full season with Rocks last year.

He averaged ten points and four rebounds per game, though his figures in five games against Bears were slightly better at 11.6 and five respectively.

That included 21 points at the Brighton Centre as Rocks took their hosts to overtime at the end of the season.

Nurse said: "He has proved himself to be one of the bright young stars.

"I like the fact that he's athletic, he's tough and he can play defence so he will fit in well with us."