His last-second three-pointer beat them in the National Cup semi-finals then he bossed them off court in the National Trophy Final at the Brighton Centre. But now he's joining them.

Since then, a serious car crash sidelined him but, having lately progressed the rebuilding of his career in the Arabic Red Sea state of Qatar (15ppoints a game, 6assists), he is ready for the BBL and a return to England.

He is 6ft 0in, from Ohio, and that three pointer in 04-05 was one among the successful 42 per cent of his three-point attempts in a standout season of being named EBL MVP for Division 1, after averaging 30 points, four rebounds and seven asissts.

Thunder operations manager Alan Sweetman-Hicks commented: "Had it not been for his accident I'm sure he would have moved on to better things. From people we've spoken to, he is in the best shape of his life and is looking forward to returning to England. I can't wait to see what kind of impact he will make in the BBL".

Patton's waiting fellow-American on the roster is the versatile forward Jonathan Woods, from Chicago.

Alongside Patton in the back-court will be Thunder's first ex-BBL new signing, ex-Scottish Rocks guard Dan Wardrope. The 6ft 3in Scot is another perimeter expert who consistently averages 35 per cent in threes and is moving from Guildford Heat, for whom he figured against Thunder last season in the BBL Trophy. He was in Heat's ULEB Cup team.

Both players will debut in the pre-season Thunder Cup on September 13 at the Leisure Centre, which will bring eight hours of basketball for £3, featuring two guest Irish teams, plus London Leopards from the EBL.

The Thunder coaching bench will revert to a familiar look with the return of Chris Mayes to assist head of coaching, Gary "Chicken" Smith and to deputise when Smith is unavailable. He replaces Rob Newson, the ex-Thunder guard who Smith hoped would work in tandem with Mayes while he, Smith, planned to take a semi-sabbatical back seat.

But the chemistry evidently soon blew up and Mayes walked out of the shattered test tube before the season even began. Now Smith has told Newson it has not subsequently worked satifactorily enough between the two of them left behind. Three is a crowd in this case, so Newson is seeking a new club.

Mayes assisted Smith in the title winning 2005/6 and 2006/7 seasons. After quitting Thunder, he has been further immersing himself in the game.

Sweetman-Hicks reports: "Chris was part of last season assisting legendary former Brighton and Crystal Palace coach Jimmie Guymon at Solent Kestrels and has visited the programmes at Gran Canaria and Oklahoma this summer. He will be combining his role at the Thunder with a project he is undertaking for the Euroleague."

Smith is understandably upbeat, and confirmed what Thunder observers shocked at Mayes' departure had suspected. Smith said: "Chris and I work really well together; we bounce ideas off each other, and have a lot of mutual respect. I'm glad he has returned to us. The experience he has gained these past 12 months will prove invaluable this coming season."

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