The Geraldton Buccaneers announced the signing of Guam-born American guard Earnest Ross  for the 2018 SBL season. Ross is well known in the Western Australian basketball scene, having previously played in Perth for the Wildcats. Ross is currently playing in Qatar for Al Wakrah, where in 18 games, he has averaged 20.4 points, 8.7 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 1.8 steals per game. Ross was born in the Pacific Islands United States territory of Guam to United States Navy workers. Growing up, Ross lived in Guam, Hawaii, Japan, Washington state, Texas, Maryland, Chicago, Washington DC, and North Carolina. He played high school basketball at Panther Creek High School in Cary, North Carolina, before splitting his college basketball experience with Auburn University (2009-11) and the University of Missouri (2012-14). In 132 games in the NCAA over four seasons, Ross made 80 starts and averaged 10.1 points, 5.2 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 1.2 steals per game. After graduating from Missouri, Ross moved to Australia to begin his professional career, joining the Perth Wildcats for the 2014-15 NBL season.  In 18 games, he averaged 3.3 points and 2.3 rebounds per game.  Ross returned to Australia in 2016, as he joined the Ballarat Miners of the South East Australian Basketball League. He was twice named SEABL Player of the Week during the 2016 season, and registered two triple-doubles. In 22 games for the Miners, Ross averaged 19.9 points, 7.9 rebounds, 5.0 assists and 2.1 steals per game. For the 2016-17 season, Ross moved to Denmark to play for Team FOG Naestved. There he averaged 14.7 points, 6.4 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.6 steals in 23 games. In March 2017, he moved to New Zealand to play for the Super City Rangers. In 15 games for the Rangers, he averaged 19.1 points, 5.8 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.5 steals per game. The Buccaneers have a history of recruiting well and signing big-time restricted and non-restricted players. Since their establishment in 1989, they have made six SBL Grand Finals and won their one and only championship in 2000. The Buccaneers' 2018 season gets underway on Saturday 17 March at Belmont Oasis Leisure Centre against the defending champions, the Perth Redbacks. They then play the following day at Morley Sport & Recreation Centre against the East Perth Eagles, before hosting their first home game of the season in Round 2 on Saturday 24 March at the ever-hostile Activewest Stadium.