The Halifax Rainmen are getting their top scorer back.
Shooting guard Tony Bennett, who signed with the Rainmen early last season and became a fan-favourite for his lightning quickness, told Metro Halifax yesterday he has eschewed contract offers in Europe to return to the Rainmen.
“My No. 1 reason was the fans,” Bennett said. “I also feel I left some unfinished business there because we didn’t win the championship.”
The 6-foot-1 sparkplug came to the Rainmen from NCAA Division I Bradley after pro stops in Finland and Mexico. He averaged 19.4 points per game in 12 outings, finishing twelfth in Premier Basketball League scoring, while placing fourth with 5.5 assists per game and leading the circuit with 3.1 steals.
Bennett and projected returnees Eric Crookshank and John Strickland leave about five players to be signed before the Rainmen’s season begins in January.
Bennett and Crookshank are expected to be joined by point guard Jason McLeish on the 2010 starting lineup. McLeish signed earlier this month, along with bench players Demetrius Howard at small forward and Lonnell Jones and Jerwin Callaway at shooting guard.
