Spear, a 192-centimetre point guard, is a rookie with the Adelaide 36ers in the NBL.

The 24-year-old enjoyed an impressive college career with the University of Southern Oregon, where he averaged 13.2 points at a crisp 52 per cent from the field, to go with 5.8 assists and 5.6 rebounds.

He also captained the team and was named in the All-American National Association of Intercollegiate Athletes Division 2 Second Team, as well as the NAIA All-Conference First Team.

He joined the 36ers after a brief stint with South Australian Premier League team West Adelaide.

Bandits coach Brad Chalmers said Spear had enormous potential as a combo guard.

“Joel is a bigger guard who can really shoot the ball,” he said.

“We see him as a strong combo guard in the mold of (2015 player) Daniel Sepokas.

“He's a really solid kid, he works hard, he wants to be good enough to be on an NBL roster.”

Spear enjoyed a promising junior career before college, representing the Australian U19 Emus in 2012.

Chalmers said he had high expectations for Spear when he arrives at the Lauren Jackson Sports Centre after the NBL season.

“He was very committed to the cause from the first time I spoke to him and is really keen to make the step into SEABL,” he said.

“Joel is a great kid, fits our program and brings some real positives with his shooting, court sense and his size to be able to play both guard positions in 2017.

“We will have high expectations on him to produce at a high level.”

With guard rotations taken care of with Spear and returning stars Deba George and Jack Duck, the Bandits have turned their attention to the two vacant import spots on their roster.