Crowd favourite and American import Vince Inglima will return for his fourth year with the Dandenong Rangers when the South East Australian Basketball League tips off next Saturday.

Inglima, three times defensive player of the year and the Rangers' 2008 most valuable player, was restricted by injuries last year. After a solid pre-season, he is injury-free for the first time in his career.

"I trained hard during my time at home and I'm feeling in great shape," said Inglima, who has become a favourite with Ranger supporters.

The new-look Rangers line-up will allow Inglima to play a more attacking style of game and free him from the pressures of being the team's go-to man.

The Rangers have also re-signed big Brent Hobba for the next two seasons.

After a busy off-season that included his marriage to SEABL Rangers women's player Amanda Appleton, this will be Hobba's fifth season with Dandenong.

A member of the Rangers' Big V back-to-back championship wins, and the 2006 MVP,Hobba is as keen as when he played his first game.

"I treasure every season I get to play for Dandenong and, as no team remains the same from season to season, I'm looking forward to playing with this group. I think we're a strong team and I'll be interested to see how we go."

Big Brent not only provides the muscle on court but a wealth of experience after four years of college basketball at Colorado Christian University in Denver and two seasons in the NBL with the South Dragons.

The new-look line-up includes American forward-centre Luke Fitzgerald from the Kentucky Bluegrass Stallions.

The 23 year old attended the University of the Cumberlands, averaged 17.2 points and eight rebounds a game in his first year and was a first team All-American in his senior year.

"I'll need to learn the Aussie accent, that's going to be something I'll struggle with," Fitzgerald said. "I'll be happy to provide whatever the coach wants from me. If he wants points, I'll score, if he wants me to rebound, then that's what I'll focus on. I'm keen to do whatever I'm asked to do."

After a stint of US college basketball, Lucas Walker also joins the Rangers.

Walker, originally from Launceston, played for Montana State-Billings and St Mary's College and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Sport. He was also a member of the 2004 Australian under-21 team against New Zealand in the world championship Oceania qualifiers.