READING Rockets have confirmed the resigning of long-standing player Danny Carter for the 2016-2017 season.

The club captain, who started life with the Berkshire outfit at the age of 14, will make his return for a fifth consecutive season since finishing his four-year stint in the United States at Stonybrook University, and will be hoping to go one better this season after two trophy-less campaigns.

The 27-year-old is currently the club’s longest serving player and he had no hesitation in putting pen to paper once again to team up with head coach Manuel Peña Garcés, who is back for his fourth season at the helm.

Captain Carter, who stands at 6ft 9in, said: “I am proud to return once again as the club’s captain and I am really looking forward to another battling year whilst trying to regain some silverware for the club.

“That is the main goal for me this year but on a personal level I want to be the guy that is seen to be a leader, a scorer, a rebounder, but most importantly, a hard worker who never gives up.

“I want to continue to strive to be the best Reading Rocket of all time whilst helping all my teammates every year. That’s the goal and I am more hungry than ever.”

Joining Carter in a Rockets’ uniform in the upcoming season will be 6ft 9in Dani Arcau, who is originally from Monzon, Huesca, in Spain.

He has just completed four years in the United States in the NAIA with the University of Great Falls Argonauts and joins the Reading outfit straight from the college system to beef up the front court and work alongside his namesake Carter.

The 23-year-old Spaniard becomes the Berkshire outfit’s second new signing ahead of the 2016/2017 campaign alongside American forward Chris Hooper, and Peña Garcés is delighted to capture the centre’s signature.

He gushed: “I think Dani could be a really great example in the team and club. He is a really humble person and will be a great asset to the team.

“He had other offers from LEB Gold teams in Spain but he wants to be part of our project here in Reading. Having been in one university in the USA for the last four years as well as being a former Estudiantes player, I think we have a really exciting player and I am really looking forward to him joining us in a few weeks’ time.”

On the resigning of Carter, the Spanish play-caller added: “I am thrilled Danny is returning and he is a key piece in the jigsaw for the team we are assembling.

“He offers us experience, leadership, and a big inside game and will be complemented by Dani Arcau really well.

“This season myself and Danny are really focused in what we want and we will need to work hard together as player and coach to bring the leadership to the team as well as competing for silverware, but rest assured we are all going to be ready for the challenges.”

  • READING Rockets, with support from Basketball England’s disability participation officer Jon Stonebridge, have been working alongside lead inclusion school for Berkshire, Arbour Vale Specialist Sports College in Slough, to pilot a new basketball programme.

Alongside Arbour Vale, pupils from seven Berkshire schools, including John Madejski Academy, have spent the past 12 weeks playing together, those with intellectual disabilities alongside those without, in an effort to break down barriers and change perceptions of learning difficulties.