It's hard not to notice the towering American - who stretches to 6' 9" (205cm) - among his mostly fresh-faced junior teammates.

But the marquee player insists he doesn't want to be the focus of the side's 2010 Big V season.

"I don't want it to be all about Chad, it's about the team," he said.

"I've heard they're a real young team with a lot of talent. I want to help develop these guys.

"I've got the experience, so I want to lead by example."

His experience includes an envious stint in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) division one.

He lined up with Coppin State University.

"College was probably the best time of my career because I got to play against a lot of great schools and it was just a great atmosphere," he said.

The 28-year-old has learnt a little about the more modest Big V.

"I've heard that it's competitive and that everybody is pretty much on the same level," he said.

"I want to help the team have a good winning record."

Yates explained he had a healthy winning record last year, when he lined up in Mexico for Chiapas - just one of several international stints for the American.

He has also played in England, the Dominican Republic and Australia.

He came Down Under in 2007, pulling on the uniform for Melbourne club McKinnon.

The new Seahawk - who has also played in the American Basketball Association - arrived in Warrnambool yesterday after a flight from Los Angeles.

"Warrnambool's nice and beautiful," he said before explaining he was staying with Big V legend Bobby Cunningham.

"I came here because of Bobby.

"We have a coach who coached both of us.

"He kept us in contact with one another."

Newly-appointed Warrnambool coach Tim Gainey - who was looking forward to Yates' presence on the court - directed his new teammate through plays at last night's training at Brauer College.

The younger players' anticipation of the upcoming season was evident.

"Hopefully all these guys will look up to me," Yates said.