The Sydney Kings sign 196cm forward Kevin Smith as with their final contracted roster spot for the 2012/13 iiNet NBL Championship Season.

The American born Smith played his college ball at NAIA school Lee University and joins the Kings as a local-based player having acquired New Zealand residency during his time playing in the New Zealand NBL where he has had stints with the Bay Hawks, Auckland Pirates and the Harbour Heat.

Smith is no stranger to Australia however, having previously played in both the Big V and SEABL state leagues with the Mildura Heat and the Mount Gambier Pioneers respectively.

It’s a great addition to the Sydney Kings no doubt, but an even greater achievement for Smith given the fact that he was playing BIGV Division 3 only two years, an achievement which Chris Anstey was quick to note on Twitter.

“Kevin Smith has been added to @thesydneykings roster (Congrats to a quality guy who was playing bigv d3 just 2yr ago, huge effort)” said Chris Anstey.

His name is still fondly remembered in Mildura where he took home the BIGV Division 3 MVP and led the Mildura Heat to an undefeated season in 2010.

Kevin Smith’s (Mildura Mavericks) 39 point outburst in BIGV 2010

“Kevin is very hungry for this opportunity and I am certainly excited to have him as part of the Kings roster” said Kings coach Shane Heal.

Shane Heal and the Sydney Kings have done an amazing job putting together what will no doubt be a very competitive team despite losing last year’s one-two punch Julian Khazzouh and Anatoly Bose to Europe.

2012-13 Sydney Kings Roster:

Ben Madgen, Luke Martin, Graeme Dann, Aaron Bruce, James Harvey, Tom Garlepp, Ian Crosswhite, Kevin Smith, Darnell Lazare and Corin Henry.

Smith will arrive in Sydney in mid-August in time for the start of the Kings Official Pre-Season Training which will commence with a week-long camp in Terrigal.