BRUSSELS (FIBA EuroBasket 2017 Qualifiers) - Belgium have made a declaration of intentions for the upcoming FIBA EuroBasket 2017 Qualifiers by announcing a 24-strong preliminary squad which includes all of their big names and top players.

The list of Belgium head coach Eddy Casteels includes star point guard Sam Van Rossom, despite the fact the 29-year-old has missed almost the entire season through injury.

The Valencia Basket playmaker, who only made sporadic appearances at the start of the Liga Endesa campaign, finally had to undergo knee surgery in February and is expected to return to action in late June.

Van Rossom led Belgium in both scoring and assists in last September's FIBA EuroBasket 2015 and is one of 10 players on that roster which are poised to pull on the national team jersey again this summer.

Fellow stars Axel Hervelle of Dominion Bilbao, Matt Lojeski of Olympiacos Piraeus and experienced guard Jonathan Tabu, who is having one of the best seasons of his career at Spanish side Montakit Fuenlabrada, are also included.

Certain centerpieces of the Belgian national team in recent years who shined in this year's FIBA Europe Cup have made the 24-strong preliminary squad too.

Quentin Serron, who was just named Belgian Player of the Year in the Scooore! League, his team-mates at Telenet Oostende Jean Salumu and Pierre-Antoine Gillet, CEZ Nymburk's Maxime De Zeeuw and Jean-Marc Mwema of Port of Antwerp Giants are set to add another campaign with the Belgian Lions under their belt.

The only two players who stepped out at FIBA EuroBasket 2015 and have not been included in Casteels's roster for the Qualifiers are the two veterans Lionel Bosco and Wen Mukubu, who turn 35 and 33, respectively, this summer.

It's almost inevitable that a lot of Bosco's and Mukubu's playing time will be taken up by talented youngsters, as coach Casteels has included four players from the superb Belgian team which reached a historical quarter-final berth in the FIBA U20 European Championship in 2015.

Point guard Manuel Lecomte, who made his senior international debut last summer after claiming a spot on the U20 All-Star Five, headlines this contingent which also includes fellow guard Thomas Akyazili and forwards Vincent Kesteloot and Hans Vanwijn.

Meanwhile 23-year-old University of Alabama point guard Obasohan (Retin) Ojomoh, who last suited up for Belgium in the 2012 edition of U20 European Championship Division B, is poised to return to the national team mix this summer.

The Belgian Lions were drawn in Group A, together with Cyprus, Iceland and Switzerland and play their opener at home against the Cypriot side on 31 August.

Belgium's 24-man roster for the FIBA EuroBasket 2017 Qualifiers: Thomas Akyazili, Khalid Boukichou, Maxime De Zeeuw, Pierre-Antoine Gillet, Amaury Gorgemans, Axel Hervelle, Ioann Iarochevitch, Vincent Kesteloot, Elias Lasisi, Manuel Lecomte, Matt Lojeski, Dorian Marchant, Niels Marnegrave, Guy Muya, Jean-Marc Mwema, Retin Obasohan, Jean Salumu, Loic Schwartz, Quentin Serron, Jonathan Tabu, Olivier Troisfontaines, Kevin Tumba, Sam Van Rossom, Hans Vanwijn.

FIBA