THE Perth Wildcats have added some size and experience to their NBL roster by signing Galen Young to replace injured veteran Paul Rogers.
The Wildcats will return to the top of the NBL ladder if they beat the Townsville Crocodiles at Challenge Stadium this Saturday, but after two straight losses to the Gold Coast Blaze coach Rob Beveridge feels his team is lacking some leadership, experience and presence inside the paint.
Beveridge's original plan this season was to have the twin towers of Luke Schenscher and Rogers, but when Rogers injured his elbow and triceps in the second game that plan backfired.
Rogers is likely to have played his last NBL game and despite holding a 7-5 record, the Wildcats have added 196cm Young to add some rebounding and presence alongside Schenscher.
The 34-year-old played previously in the NBL in the 2007/08 season before returning home to America after not being re-signed following a drink-driving incident while holding a suspended license.
He will be present in Perth as the 'Cats face his old side Townsville, but is expected to debut for his new team next Thursday in New Zealand against the Breakers.
Young played his college career at North Carolina, was a second-round draft pick of the NBA's Milwaukee Bucks in 1999, and also spent time with the Indiana Pacers and Seattle Supersonics before plying his trade overseas, including the year in Townsville.
