New Zealand-born forward B.J. Anthony signs with Adelaide 36ers for two seasons "We wanted to bring in someone with potential and (B.J. is) a big upside in that position," new Sixers coach Joey Wright said. Picture: Nathan Richter Source: The Courier-Mail ADELAIDE 36ers have shored up their frontline for the 2013-14 NBL season by signing tough 198cm New Zealand-born forward B.J. Anthony. A dual-championship winner with the Breakers, Anthony, 24, has been tearing up the NZNBL with OceanaGold Nuggets this season, averaging 22.3 points at 55 per cent and 8.4 rebounds. In January, Anthony suited up for BBC Solarto Eagles Magdeburg in Germany's Regionalliga. A Tall Blacks regular since 2009, the hard-nosed defender has been signed for two years with an option for a third. BJ could be a player of the future for us. He has size, speed and really good hands and he brings that air of confidence and toughness we want to play with. Wright said he saw much of the style of NZ championship-winners and internationals Dillon Boucher and Mika Vukona in Anthony. "He has some athleticism and quickness and a better offensive package than they do," Wright said. But we will see how his knowledge of the game is because those two are very smart ball players. Confirmation of Anthony's signing brings the 36ers' roster to seven, with Adam Gibson, Anthony Petrie, Luke Schenscher, Daniel Johnson, Mitch Creek and Jason Cadee already under contract. The Sixers have spots for two imports at point guard and small forward with Gary Ervin and Adris Deleon still the blueprints for the type of game-breaking player Wright is seeking. "Because we have secured BJ, we have four bigs and a guy in the middle in Mitch," Wright said. We're looking for a guy who can get stops for us on the perimeter. BJ is more on the blocks. In this league, there's probably only one traditional three (small forward) and that's Tom Abercrombie (at Breakers). We need Mitch, Gibbo, Jason and another defender for the perimeters. Anthony is keen to have another crack at the NBL. "I'm really looking forward to getting back into the NBL and taking the next step in my career," he said. I have a lot of respect for coach Wright and the Adelaide 36ers. Meanwhile Gibson, back from the Australian Boomers' four-game Sino-Australia Challenge against China, will join Petrie, Johnson and Cadee in the State Basketball League this week, suiting with Forestville. The London Olympian is the best-credentialled player to come into the SBL and will make his debut at Starlex in Gawler against Central District on Saturday night. While Gibson largely will be keeping himself in game-condition for the Boomers' upcoming Oceania Series against New Zealand in August, his presence in the SBL will give the league a huge boost. Petrie will play with North Adelaide against Woodville at St Clair while Johnson and Cadee are with West, which hosts Southern on Saturday at Port Adelaide.