Sullivan Phillips has been handed a dream chance to make an impact in international basketball.

The versatile 24-year-old has signed for Brighton Bears and been told he is competing for a starting spot in the ULEB Cup.

Phillips averaged 10.3 points and 6.4 rebounds for Birmingham Bullets last season, his first campaign in the British League.

He also gained valuable European experience, playing for Bullets in the Champions Cup and top-scoring in home wins over Fribourg and Oliveirense.

Bears chief Nick Nurse tipped Phillips for great things and sent out a message to other ambitious English players and their agents.

Nurse said: "We have signed a player who is extremely athletic and has a ton of potential. He can really develop into a top level basketball player.

"He can play point guard, he can rebound and he can finish. He is also very coachable and hard working."

Nurse added: "This shows our commitment to young English talent and underlines the fact that Brighton is the place for up-and-coming players to come and play."

Bears have already signed highly-rated West Londoner Phil Perre from Scottish Rocks on a one-year deal.

Although both are exciting signings, news that group rivals Lietuvos Rytas have signed power forward Dickey Simpkins, three times NBA champion with the Chicago Bulls, shows what Bears will be up against in Europe.

Phillips, who was born in Bermuda, is 6ft 6in tall but can play anywhere except centre.

He is likely to be used in the two-guard slot which now appears to have been vacated by Ralph Blalock.

With Duck already under contract and Mike Brown poised to re-sign, Bears' back court for the new season is developing well.

Further forward Nurse is in contact with two experienced big men. Sterling Davis appears to be heading to the continent.

Bears can still sign one American and one dual national to remain within quotas for European basketball.

In theory, they could then sign two further overseas players for domestic competition, providing one of them did not need a work permit.