DREW LASKER has rejected offers from Germany and Sheffield Sharks and signed a new one-year deal with Plymouth Raiders.

The 25-year-old American guard from Houston, Texas faxed a signed copy of his contract to Raiders' city offices at the 11th hour on Monday night.

Raiders coach Gary Stronach had set out-of-contract Lasker a deadline of the first week in June to accept or reject terms, and had a verbal agreement with a new starting shooting-guard.

“Drew knew he had run out of time,” said Stronach. “His is a very important position to fill.

“He was fortunate I hadn't got the contract out to a replacement (in the US) I was going to sign, because I never go back once a contract's signed.”

Lasker led Raiders in scoring last season, averaging a career-high 19.0 points per game and attracted 'heavy' interest from new Sharks player-coach Atiba Lyons.

“Drew had a really big offer from Europe and from a BBL team, who were chasing him hard,” said Raiders chief executive Dave Briggs.

“But he always said he would never go to another BBL team if he had the chance to come back here.

“He loves Plymouth, and would never go against Plymouth. He would hate the thought of having to play against us.”

Raiders do not know who the offer from Germany's top-flight, the Bundesliga, was.

But former Scottish Rocks coach Thorsten Leibenath currently coaches powerhouse Artland Dragons in his homeland and revisited the BBL to recruit Newcastle Eagles guard Shawan Robinson last summer.

Stronach said: “We didn't go into what money Drew was offered in Germany.

“At the end of the day he's a man, he's made a decision and it's the right decision – I've told him that.”

German champions Berlin beat BBL title winners Guildford Heat 81-63 and 80-71, home and away, respectively, in Europe last season, highlighting the gap in quality.

“The Bundesliga is definitely a step up from the BBL,” said Briggs. “But Gary's been talking to Drew a couple of times a week, and Drew knew he was our first option for a starting shooting-guard and we didn't want him to go somewhere else.

“We've put together a really good package for Drew this year, and for us to beat off a team from Germany to re-sign him is a big scalp for us.”

Lasker, who is 6ft 3in, has been Raiders' starting shooting-guard and leading scorer since first joining the club as a rookie in 2005.

He has improved year-on-year and is now undoubtedly Raiders' talisman.

He finished third in the prestigious BBL Player of the Year 2007/08 vote, the highest a Raider has ever finished, and was arguably the best guard in the league.

He helped Raiders finish a highest-ever third in the BBL and go further than ever before in the end of season play-offs – the semi-finals.

Lasker is the fourth starter from last season to commit to Raiders for 2008/09 – alongside guard Anthony Martin, forward DeAntoine Beasley and centre Terrence Durham.

Forward Gaylon Moore, the other starter, remains in negotiations with the club.

Reserves, guards Gavin Love and Allister Gall and forward James Noel have also returned alongside new face, forward Patrick Fitzpatrick.

Briggs added: “This is big for us. We're really excited to have Drew back.

“To have him and Anthony in our backcourt next year is a big statement to teams around the league – simply because they thought Drew would leave this summer.”

Lasker's points average improved to 19.0 per game last season from 18.4 per game in 2006/07.

It was the highest points average a Raider had ever achieved in the BBL.

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