MANCHESTER Giants have signed American point guard Mike McCall Jnr for the 2018/19 season.

The 27-year-old hails from Chicago and played in the NBA G-League for Iowa Energy in his first season as a professional in 2014/15.

He then moved to Deportivo Quevedo in Ecuador, averaging 32 points per game, before spending two seasons at his home-town club Chicago Steam in the ABA.

Giants coach Danny Byrne said: “Mike comes to us with perhaps the best pedigree of any player that Giants have had since our return to the BBL.

"After a stellar college career, his professional career hasn’t always gone to plan, but he has a big opportunity now. Mike was our top target all summer and we’re delighted to have him.

“He is exactly the kind of point guard that thrives in the BBL.

"If we need him to score, he can score in a variety of ways; if we need him to facilitate, or his shot’s not dropping, then he can facilitate.

"He’s a tenacious on-ball defender too, and can set the tone and tempo for what we’re trying to do as a team."

McCall Jnr said: “I’ve heard great things about the league and the city and I’m looking forward to meeting the fans and my team-mates and having a great season this year.

“It’s my first time in Europe so I’m excited by that and I’m looking forward to leading the offence at the Giants."

McCall Jnr arrives to join 6ft 9in tall Croatian Vlatko Granic, who was Byrne’s first new import signing recently.

Granic said: “I am really excited to come to Manchester and meet all the players and coaching staff.

“I am an all-round player, I can get rebounds, I can knock threes and I can play good defence.

“My plan is to give my best on the court and to help my team reach the play-offs. I believe we can do really great things this season."

Byrne added: “Vlatko brings something to Giants that we haven’t seen for a while. He’s a big guy, willing to mix it up in the paint, rebound and play hard on defence; but he can also stretch the floor and shoot the three.

“He brings that typical European style to our frontcourt, and for such a young player he already has a wealth of experience in the US and Europe.”