Hapoel Jerusalem is just one piece away from completing its puzzle for the coming season after signing American power forward Mario Austin to a one-year deal Monday.

Austin, 23, is a powerful 2.05-meter big man, whose promising career has been plagued by bad decisions and bad luck.

He arrives from Italian side Biella, where he was among the top players in the Italian league last season, averaging 16.7 points and 6.1 rebounds per game.

Hapoel Jerusalem coach Erez Edelstein released a statement via the club's Web site calling Austin "young" and "very talented."

"He's a player who can line up with both our [big] Israelis, [Ido] Kozikaro and [Erez] Marckovich," Edelstein said. "Mario plays with heart and emotion and could fit in well with the atmosphere in Jerusalem and the crowd at Malcha."

Austin's deal is reportedly worth $600,000-$650,000 money the team would have spent on three foreign players before billionaire Arkadi Gaydamak became Hapoel's president.

With his money, Edelstein has also signed point guard Horace Jenkins, swingman Roger Mason Jr. and brought back guard Meir Tapiro.