Standard Life Great Britain will be checking in to their training camp this weekend in Cobham, Surrey – despite the vast amount of setbacks that have hit Coach Chris Finch’s squad.
Joel Freeland and latest recruit, Ben Gordon have failed to recover from injuries, with Robert Archibald and Mike Lenzley deciding to take the summer off, following long and hard season with their respective clubs.
“I know how disappointed both Joel and Ben are not to have made it this year, especially Ben, after committing to the GB Standard Life team earlier this year. We remain optimistic that he will make his debut in 2011.
“Two other absentees are Robert Archibald and Mike Lenzley. Both Rob and Mike had long seasons with their clubs, so we are unfortunately going to have to do without them this summer. Although this is a blow, we have planned accordingly and brought in cover in those positions” added Finch.
The new look national team is much younger this year, with a number of the player selected coming from the GB Futures line-up. Including players such as; Matthew Bryan-Amaning, Devan Bailey and Ogo Adegboye – all three currently playing in College Basketball in the NCAA.
The British Basketball League has four representatives in the squad for training camp. Including; Olu Babalola of the Everton Tigers, Glasgow Rocks’ point-guard, Rob Yanders, Andrew Sullivan of the Newcastle Eagles and Tafari Toney of the Sheffield Sharks.
Standard Life Great Britain will play two warm-up games in Cobham against Finland and Canada, before jetting off to Israel for a four-team tournament. They begin their EuroBasket 2001 qualifying campaign away to Hungary on August 2nd.
John Hobbs for TalkBasket.net
GB Standard Life Senior Men’s Squad List:
Achara, Kieron – Scotland & Angelico Biella, ITA
Adegboye, Ogo – England & St Bonaventure University, USA
Babolola, Olu – England & Everton Tigers, ENG
Bailey, Devan – England & Central Connecticut University, USA
Boateng, Eric – England, Arizona State University, USA
Boyd, Flinder –England & Ourense Balonceto, ESP
Bryan-Amaning, Matthew – England & University of Washington, USA
Clark, Dan – England & Estudiantes, ESP
Deng, Luol – England & Chicago Bulls, USA
Hamilton, Ashley – England & Loyola Maramiunt University, USA
Mensah-Bonsu, Pops – England – Unattached.
Reinking, Nate – England & Mons Hainaut, BEL
Robinson, Justin – England & Rider University, USA
Sullivan, Andrew – England & Newcastle Eagles, ENG
Toney, Tafari – England & Sheffield Sharks, ENG
Van Oostrum, Devon – England & Caja Laboral, ESP
Yanders, Rob – Scotland & Scottish Rocks, SCO