The Maitland Mustangs have announced the signing of Sharif Watson for the inaugural 2022 Coles Express NBL1 East Season.
Hailing from Los Angeles, Watson is coming off a hugely successful 2021 season in NBL1 South for the Albury Wodonga Bandits, averaging 14.5 points and 7.5 rebounds.
An Arizona Christian University graduate, Watson has had an illustrious overseas career playing in Bolivia, Israel, Germany and Spain.
Since arriving on Australian shores in 2018, Watson has made a name for himself in both the Waratah League and NBL1 South, including a COVID-19 and injury-interrupted stint with the Mustangs in 2020.
When asked about Watson's signing, coach Luke Boyle said: "Sharif provides us with a versatility we didn’t have before.
"'Reef' is a great defender and a proven scorer but most importantly allows us to shuffle our line ups due to his size and adaptability.
"It’s great to have him back at Maitland, he’s a good fit for our culture and gives us some added depth."
Upon joining the Mustangs, Watson said: "I decided to sign with Maitland because of the culture that the team and the entire program has.
"I am excited for this season and cannot wait to get out there and put some wins on the board."
View the 2022 NBL1 roster tracker here.
Feature image taken by Ian Knight Photography
