×
20 November, 2017
26 February, 2019
15 Matthew Hodgson (AUS)
21/08/2018
News
to read

Hodgson and Kay will lead Australia at the Asian Qualifiers fourth window

CANBERRA (FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 Asian Qualifiers) - Three returnees and two debutantes will feature in Australia's final roster for the fourth window of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 Asian Qualifiers next month.

Big men Matthew Hodgson and Jesse Wagstaff return to the national team together with floor general Mitch Norton as the Boomers aim to add two more wins to their 5-win tally in the Asian Qualifiers. Joining them are Todd Blanchfield and Daniel Johnson, both of whom will be seeing action in the Asian Qualifiers for the first time.

 Australia 12-player roster for FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 Asian Qualifiers
 Todd Blanchfield  Angus Brandt  Jason Cadee  Anthony Drmic
 Matthew Hodgson  Daniel Johnson  Nicholas Kay  Kevin Lisch
 Mitch McCarron  Mitch Norton  Nathan Sobey  Jesse Wagstaff

The 6ft 11in (2.11m) Hodgson saw action for the Green & Gold in their first four games of the Asian Qualifiers, averaging 8.5 points and 6.3 rebounds per game, while Norton and Wagstaff both saw action in the second window clashes against the Philippines and Chinese Taipei. All three were not called up in the third window, but they are expected to make their stamp here in the fourth window as Australia face Qatar and Kazakhstan.

Blanchfield, meanwhile, was part of the Boomers squad that romped to the FIBA Asia Cup 2017 title and should provide added depth at the wing position, especially with star player Mitch Creek missing the fourth window. Johnson, for his part, was an All-NBL First Team 2018 member after putting up around 16 points, 7 rebounds and 3 assists per contest.

"It's great for both Todd and Daniel to have this opportunity," said Australia head coach Andrej Lemanis. "Todd knows the Boomers system and culture from the FIBA Asia Cup campaign and will slot straight back in to the group."

Also on the roster is 6ft 9in (2.06m) frontliner Nicholas Kay, who has played in all six Asian Qualifiers games so far. He has been solid for coach Lemanis, averaging 7.3 points and 5.3 boards per outing, and he should assemble for a formidable frontline combo together with Hodsgon.

A post shared by Nathan Sobey (@sobes2zero) on

 

Rounding out the squad are other players who've seen action in the first three Asian Qualifiers windows - Jason Cadee, Mitch McCarron, Angus Brandt and Nathan Sobey - along with returnees Kevin Lisch and Anthony Drmic.

The Boomers play Qatar at the Al Gharafa Sports Club on 13 September before flying back home to host Kazakhstan on 17 September at the Bendigo Stadium.

FIBA