Colby Bargeman has thanked his Worthing Thunder coach for giving him the freedom to make the BBL team of the week.

Even if he did not quite understand what the accolade actually meant.

Bargeman came to England in the autumn with a reputation for defence but has shown an exciting ability to create and convert his own scoring opportunities in a promising start to his rookie year.

Those skills helped him to a game-high 28 points, on 11-for-20 shooting, plus eight rebounds as his side won impressively 90-89 at Leicester Riders, their third success in the last four games.

It is a run Thunder will look to continue tomorrow when high-scoring Worcester Wolves make their second visit of the season to Sussex (7pm).

Bargeman became the latest Thunder player to make a theoretical team compiled at BBL headquarters each Monday comprising the top five players from around the league over the weekend.

He admitted: “I thought team of the week meant Worthing were the best team.

“I didn’t realise how it worked until my team mates told me at practice.

“It’s pretty cool. I’m having a lot of fun here.

“This is the first time I’ve played full-time pro and I’ve got a lot of freedom.

“It’s different from college, where I was in a pretty tight system. I’m a bit more freelance here.”

Thunder coach Gary Smith tries to run as tight a ship as possible when it comes to defence but he is letting his men have fun at the other end.

Bargeman said: ”Coach is telling me to stay aggressive offensively.

“He knows I love to play defence. “He wants me to get to the basket and try and score the ball.

“I’ve always been more of a shooter coming through college. That’s what I liked to do.

“But I can put the ball on the floor and do a whole lot of other things as well.

“I haven’t really shown everything yet. There’s a lot more people haven’t seen.”

Ironically, Bargeman was described as a centre in team of the week announcement.

Ironic because that is probably the only position he couldn’t play.

“No, that was a typo,” said the 6ft 5in 22-year-old from Louisiana Thunder will need some heart and aggression when the Wolves return for what is now Worthing’s last game before Christmas.

Those qualities were arguably the missing ingredients last time in a 116-110 defeat which saw the Sussex side fall well adrift, then get back to within three points in the final minute.

Bargeman said: “We need to stay aggressive. We are on the right road now.

“Everybody is starting to believe we can win games.

“We’ve had hard practices and we want to get this win for the fans so everybody can have a good Christmas.”

Those fans are already looking forward to the derby at Guildford on December 28. The trip to Milton Keynes a week tomorrow has now been put back to February 8.

Meanwhile the home fixture with Plymouth listed for Saturday, January 17, has been moved forward a week to January 10.