THE Glasgow Rocks head coach Sterling Davis declared it was “just like Christmas” after taking the wraps off his new-look side yesterday as they began pre-season training at the Emirates Arena.

The American has confirmed that Scotland caps Danny Huffor, Fraser Glass and Dale Grieve have left the BBL club with only Kieron Achara and Jonny Bunyan retained from the line-up that finished sixth last term after

With a gamble on recruiting three rookie professionals, Davis admits he has a fresh challenge on his hands in his first campaign since calling time on his own playing career with just 16 days until their opening league clash against Worcester Wolves.

“It’s exciting to see what we have,” he said. “You’ve seen guys on film but now you get to see them at first hand and try and figure out their strengths and weaknesses. That’s the most exciting part, seeing the team together for the first time and it’s been a solid start.

“I want to see more team play, more of us playing together as a group. We have good guys here who want to play for each other, who have talent, but who also understand there’s other talent around them too. They’ve all been like that where they’ve been before so I hope that will help to solidify our reputation as a team and what we want our identity to be.”

Davis will try to add extra depth to his squad before the season tips off with a move to sign Austria Under-20 international Adam Hammerschmidt from Stirling Knights understood to be under consideration. But with Glass set to join EBL outfit Reading Rockets, and long-serving Grieve parting ways, the Rocks reserves will be completely revamped.

“Those guys could have played,” Davis said. “They always did well for us. But the guys we have this year can be just as productive. We’ve got more depth this year, especially at the guard position where we’re over-loaded like almost every team in this league.”