Great Britain announce squad for FIBA World Cup qualifiers

New Great Britain coach Tony Garbelotto has named his squad for the upcoming FIBA World Cup qualifiers, which begin next Friday.

Nine of the 12 that represented GB at the recent Eurobasket have been called up, while there are returns to the squad for Myles Hesson, Ovie Soko, Robert Gilchrist and Will Saunders.

Captain Kieron Achara, Dan Clark, Andrew Lawrence and Eric Boateng are among the regular and familiar names to return to GB colours. Other veterans of Istanbul – Gabe Olaseni, who was named as the tournament’s most efficient player, Luke Nelson, Gareth Murray, Teddy Okereafor and Kofi Josephs – are back too. And after missing out on Eurobasket thanks to a knee injury, Biella forward Carl Wheatle is once more among the senior international ranks.

“I am keen to get started on the new era for British Basketball,” said Garbelotto.

“This promises to be an exciting few days working with some very talented players, which will showcase the increasing depth within the British game.”

There is a new name in the initial 15 player-list with Tarik Phillip included on the roster with the Brooklyn-born guard currently playing in Hungary having graduated from West Virginia earlier this year.

Great Britain Senior Men Squad:

Kieron Achara (Glasgow Rocks)
Eric Boateng (Saint Vallier, France)
Dan Clark (Gipuzkoa, Spain)
Robert Gilchrist (Unattached)
Myles Hesson (Unattached)
Kofi Josephs (Glasgow Rocks)
Andrew Lawrence (Sigal Prishtina, Kosovo)
Gareth Murray (Glasgow Rocks)
Luke Nelson (Real Betis, Spain)
Teddy Okereafor (Kymis, Greece)
Gabe Olaseni (Fuenlabrada, Spain)
Tarik Phillip (Szolnok, Hungary)
Will Saunders (Cambados, Spain)
Ovie Soko (Murcia, Spain)
Carl Wheatle (Biella, Italy)

Despite hope of a possible return to the set-up, there is no room for 2012 Olympian Joel Freeland, as well as Luol Deng, who is currently in-season with the Los Angeles Lakers.

Ben Mockford, Jules Dang and Kyle Johnson are the three GB players from Eurobasket that are not included.