Conn, 23, arrives at the Dragons after five years at Gardner-Webb University in North Carolina, USA, and one season in the Polish national league.

“I’ve been wanting to play in the NBL forever and to have that chance with the Dragons is a dream come true,” Conn said.

“I spoke to all the guys (on the team) and they’re a really good group, there’s potential there to have a good team and have a lot of fun.”

Conn joins the club on a one-year deal with the option to sign on for a second season.

Conn, currently in action for the Sandringham Sabres in the local BigV, has shown impressive form since his return from overseas early this year.

The 205cm centre was named BigV Player of the Week in Round 3 after posting 39 points, 18 rebounds and four assists in the Sabres’ win over Waverley.

Conn said the new-look Dragons would prove a major force in the national league next season.

“I think we’ve got a really good team where everyone seems to be willing to put in the hard yards in the off-season and that should pay off,” he said.

South Dragons coach Shane Heal said Conn had the potential to make a huge impact on the NBL.

“Simon’s an exciting guy who at 6”10’ has been playing extremely well in the BigV and has got a lot of talent and fantastic touch for a big guy,” he said.

“The numbers that he has put up for Sandringham have been exceptional.”

Conn’s signing to the club comes as the result of a nation-wide search to attract new talent.

“We’re looking all around Australia in all the different leagues and trying to find the best players who we think have the potential to go on and be good NBL players,” Heal said.

“I spoke to (former South Dragon) Adam Quick, who plays with Simon at Sandringham, and he was extremely positive about the attributes that he has and thought that he would certainly deserve an opportunity to play at the NBL level.”

Having now finalised the South Dragons’ 2007-08 roster, Heal said he was looking forward to the season ahead.

“I can’t wait, it’s really exciting,” he said.

“I’m happy with the way the team has come together and I think apart from myself – who kills the average age of the team – the next oldest is around 26 or 27, so that’s really exciting because we can mould the team in line with the philosophies that I’ve got.

“We’ve really chosen the team based on guys that are hungry to succeed and want the work that we’re going to put in and I think every single player is committed to that.”