FRANK Bennett has given up the Florida sunshine to join Newcastle Eagles - but the American rookie insists the heat of this weekend's BBL play-offs will be as intense as anything he has experienced on the opposite side of the Atlantic.

The 23-year-old, who is in his first season as a professional, moved to Tyneside after he graduated from Georgia Southern College last year.

His arrival has co-incided with Newcastle's most successful season ever as victory in the BBL Trophy final was quickly followed by a second-placed finish in the league.

All of that could be overshadowed this weekend though, with the Eagles needing to beat Sheffield Sharks tonight to progress to a play-off final tomorrow that will almost certainly pit them against league champions Chester Jets.

British basketball is seen as a poor relation of the NBA in the US but, after experiencing life in the BBL at first hand, Bennett is fully aware of just how tough this weekend's double-header will be.

"The BBL doesn't attract enough publicity for the product it delivers," argued the six foot seven inch forward. "It's a really competitive league and it's more than lived up to my expectations.

"I came into the unknown, but the likes of Jeremy Hyatt and Andrew Sullivan are representative of the quality we have here. They've made a big impression on me this season.

"The Eagles experience has been everything I'd hoped for and more. Hopefully, this weekend, we will sign off the season in style."