Big Pat Bates has been given a vote of confidence by his coach at Belmont Abbey in North Carolina.

The Abbey Crusaders boast a 6-1 record and are No. 1 in their region of divison two basketball.

Head coach Dip Metress said: "Pat is doing well right now. In our last victory he gave us a big boost off the bench with two rebounds and a steal.

"He is adjusting to our level and we expect big things out of him in the future."

Bates, 6ft.9ins, comes from Worthing and is another young prospect to have played at Brighton Cougars and come under the wing of Bears junior coach Billy Hungrecker.

After a spell in Ireland, Hungrecker is now back in Sussex and keen to get back on board with the Bears set-up.

He said: "I fully intend to get involved again with the Bears and hopefully be part of a stronger link-up with the seniors."

Daniel Midgley says he is relishing life with the Clippers at University of Maine.

Like his brother Richard, the 21-year-old is faring well coming off the bench though, with Daniel at the most easterly school in the States, the pair could not be much further apart.

The former Brighton Bear averages seven points and five boards in limited minutes.

Maine recently played the biggest game in their history against a division one school from Alabama and Midgley finished with ten and three plus a block, all in the second half.

He said: "My team hopes to go to nationals this year for NAIA. I play on a very good squad with ex-division one and junior college players and former high school stars."