Maccabi Tel Aviv adds big man Shawn James

Turkish Airlines Euroleague runner-up Maccabi Electra continued getting ready for the 2011-12 Turkish Airlines Euroleague season by inking center Shawn James, known as a shot-blocking expert, on Monday. James (208, 27) arrives from Bnei Eshet Tours Hasharon, where he has played the last three seasons, leading the Israeli League in blocks every single year. Last season, he averaged 13.1 points, 10.6 rebounds and 3.3 blocks in 30 Israeli League games. James had one of his best games of the season - 17 points, 17 rebounds, 5 blocks - in an overtime home loss against Maccabi. Hasharon had been his only professional team so far, as James previously played for the University of Duquesne and Northeastern University, shattering all blocks records in the NCAA. James averaged 6.5 blocks in 30 NCAA games with Northeastern in the 2005-06 season. In his first season with Hasharon, James averaged 8.8 points, 6.6 rebounds and 1.8 blocks in 4 Eurocup games.

"I'm very happy about the addition of Shawn to our team. He fits the path that we wish to have at Maccabi Electra," coach David Blatt said. "He has a great character and is very skilled. He could complete two things that we missed a lot this season - rebounds and shot blocking - two things you can never have enough of on a team. Shawn knows the Israeli League very well and he's going to help us a lot in Europe as well. We had a strong frontcourt already, but it will now be even stronger."