At the start of this season, EJ Harrison was known only as a reliable

national league point guard with Teesside and Reading, but now the

Connecticut-born 31-year-old has a BBL Trophy winner's medal, a most

valuable player award and European experience in his locker.

And all that in just four months, since he took over from the injured Brian Dux with Guildford reeling from the life-threatening injuries their fans' favourite had sustained in a car crash.

"The coach believes in me and the guys do too - this is a league I've always wanted to play in since I've been over here and always believed I could play in," he said after scoring 25 points - 16 of them in the Heat's successful second-half comeback to beat Newcastle 86-79 in the Trophy final.

"I just needed the opportunity and I'm happy it came here because we were

also in the Uleb Cup. I couldn't be happier."

It was hard work and composure, learned in a tough and ultimately unsuccessful European campaign that completed the turnaround from a

half-time 12-point deficit, according to Harrison.

"The coach got on to us at half-time and told us to pick it up," said

Harrison. "The Uleb was tough, but what I learned was the composure. We were up against a lot of very good teams that punish you if you don't do the right things. We learned that and we're trying to become that kind of team in the BBL."

Guildford, who won the league last season and are lying third at present,

still have to play leaders Newcastle twice more before the end of the

regular season.

"Hopefully we can win a couple more things - this season isn't over by any stretch. Hopefully we can get back into the league picture and then there's the play-offs to come as well."

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