Kendrick Warren has been around long enough to know the downfalls of British League basketball.

It is an insecure business with precious little recognition on the international stage.

Hardly surprising then that, when Brighton Bears chief Nick Nurse offered him a two-year deal and a ULEB Cup starting spot, the former London Towers centre jumped at it.

As a result, Warren, at 6ft 9ins, will be the centrepiece of the Bears line-up tackling a double header this weekend in the final dress rehearsals for league action.

Warren is no stranger to Bears fans. He earned their respect by being the only real threat posed by Towers as they lost six of the eight derbies last season.

He totalled 151 points, on 50 per cent field shooting, and 82 rebounds in those games, and brought the house down at Crystal Palace with a fabulous dunk following up a wayward Ronnie Baker finger roll.

Which makes him a welcome addition to the south coast squad as Ralph Blalock, Sterling Davis and Emiko Etete move in the other direction.

Warren admitted: "At the age of 32, it's great to be able to lock myself in for two years and make a commitment to a team instead of signing a one-year deal and be looking for a job next year.

"We had great battles last year.

"Any time Brighton and London get together it's always going to be a great game.

"Right now I'm just on the other end of the stick."

Warren was on the the same team as Randy Duck at Towers and the old understanding was in evidence during last Sunday's win at Worthing Thunder.

Nurse was coach at Crystal Palace in those days and knows Warren's game well, which would explain his keenness to employ him as a power forward alongside another big man.

Warren is happy with that. He has travelled a bit and played for some fun sounding teams, such as Playboys Helsinki and his hometown Richmond Rhythm in Virginia.

Other previous clubs include Flamengo, Huelva, Yakima Sunkings and Malmo.

Warren said: "There have been lots of different experiences.

"In Japan I was playing against smaller guys, Rio was like a summer league all year round, France and Finland were cold.

"Playing in Europe will get exposure for our league and hopefully we will go out there and do a good job.

"I'll go back out there and do the same things I've been doing all my life.

"It's a lot more physical in Europe. You have to play a lot smarter because every possession counts. You can't get into shoot outs with teams.

"In the BBL you can always count on out-rebounding teams but in Europe they will have a bunch of 6ft 10ins guys."

How many of that height will be in the Bears team remains a mystery. A new centre is the priority, with Jason Siemon now heading the list of candidates, though Nurse has refused to rule out Martin Henlan.

Or maybe someone else will get the nod. There must be bargains to be had out there with the new season so nearly upon us, both at home and on the continent, and Nurse and new assistant Graham Wilson have been studying the player market closely.

Nurse released Ryan Blackwell and added Rico Alderson this time last year and it proved a massive success Things should be a lot more clear after this double-header weekend but Warren is already thinking big.

Asked about his new-look side's prospects, he said: "We've got a great chance of winning the Championship.

"Any time Nick Nurse is coaching a team you've got a chance."

Bears beat Errol Seaman's London United 123-51 in a friendly behind closed doors at Falmer last night.

Wilson took charge and said: "It was a step forward. We shot the ball quite well."