ESSEX Leopards have added American Kris Clark to their 2013/14 roster.

The 6’2” tall guard played alongside Leopards’ player-coach Robert Youngblood at MK Lions in the 2011/12 season, averaging 11.2 points, 5.1 assists and 3.7 rebounds in the BBL Championship before playing in Australia last year.

And Youngblood is thrilled to have brought him to the Big Cats.

“Kris is an excellent signing for us” said Youngblood.

“I think he’ll make a reason difference for us, he can score well if we need him to, but he can also control the game well.”

Clark joins fellow American big man Howard Crawford and English forward Siman Stewart as the new faces for the Big Cats, with captain Carl Josey, seven foot centre Lawrence Brown and guard Ishmael Fontaine also confirmed as returnees for Youngblood’s men.

Leopards begin their pre-season campaign against Team USA at the Brentwood Centre on Friday night and Youngblood will be using the pre-season games to look at other players as the Big Cats aim to add to their trophy collection that has seen them lift all four pieces of England Basketball silverware in the last two seasons.

Team USA, are a touring organisation for players looking to get a job in Europe.

They have been coming over from the States for many years now and this season sees them travel with 36 players who will be split into three sides and have a heavy schedule with the side Leopards face playing seven games in as many days.

They then play in a two-day tournament in Ireland before returning to England to play another four games.

Friday’s game tips off at 8pm.