BRADFORD Dragons Basketball Club are pleased to announce that Rihards Šulcs has signed up for an eleventh season in the Dragons’ Den.

The 6ft 3in forward first joined the club for the 2009-10 season and experienced consecutive promotions from the third tier of the English Basketball League into the renamed National Basketball League Division One, in his first two seasons at the club.

His high-flying antics, coupled with one of the most highlighted slam-dunk finishes in British basketball, have made him a firm favourite amongst the club’s support base.

Last season was arguably the Latvian’s best season yet in Dragons colours; averaging 19.8 points, 8.8 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game, thrilling the crowds with his hard and fast style of play.

Dragons Head Coach, Chris Mellor is delighted to have retained Šulcs on the roster for the coming campaign, saying: “It’s great to have Rihards back again for another season.

“He has consistently performed in Division One, year in and year out. He has come back in great shape, both physically and mentally, for the season ahead.”

Šulcs himself added: “I’m really pleased to be back with the Dragons, for what will be my eleventh season with the club. We still have the same targets as every year and we are ready to go out and prove that, as a team, we can go all the way.

“This year we have some great players joining us, that will really boost our roster and help the team in the best way that they can.”

The Dragons kick off their pre-season with a visit to Manchester Magic on Sunday, September 15 (tip-off 5:30pm).

Magic, who have been a major force in the National Basketball League for many years, dropped out of the top-flight last season, following a disappointing campaign, but will be keen to bounce back at the first time of asking.

The league action starts on Saturday, September 28 with a trip to Uxbridge College to face the Thames Valley Cavaliers.