VIENNA (FIBA EuroBasket 2017 Qualifiers) - When Austria turned heads around Europe by handing the reins of their national team to Kestutis Kemzura, they knew that aside from a big name they were also getting a coach with a proven track record in developing players.

The 46-year-old Lithuanian tactician has also always been open to handing unheralded players the chance to prove their worth and take the most out of them.

The most celebrated example of that approach came at the 2010 FIBA World Cup in Turkey, when Kemzura was still at the helm of the Lithuanian national team.

The coach steered what some considered prior to the tournament as a short-handed side depleted by injuries, to an unexpected bronze medal success.

Players like Martynas Pocius or Renaldas Seibutis made their senior international debut in that tournament and went on to become mainstays of the Lithuanian national team.

His propensity to keep an open mind in this aspect is now helping Kemzura with the process of making absolutely sure he will have at his disposal the best possible roster when Austria commence their FIBA EuroBasket 2017 Qualifiers campaign on 31 August.

Since the Lithuanian tactician did not have a first-hand impression of every possible candidate for the national team, he decided to give them a chance to convince him they deserve a spot on the roster.

The Austrian Basketball Federation (OBV) announced therefore that the coach will conduct a mini-camp at the end of July with 14 players who have either only played at youth level before or were on the fringes of the senior national team.

Most players on the list fall into the first category, as Kemzura has invited 1997-born winger Luka Asceric and members of last year's U20 national team such as Marvin Ogunsipe and point guard Sebastian Käferle.

Others like 23-year-old center Jozo Rados got some playing time in the 1st and 2nd Qualification Round for FIBA EuroBasket 2015 (in the summer of 2013 and 2014, respectively) and aim to show that they should return to the national team mix.

The 14 players will gather in Kapfenberg on 20 July and Kemzura will put them through their paces during four intensive days. On 24 July, the Lithuanian coach will choose between five to seven of them to join the core of the national team in St. Pölten, where the main training camp will take place.

The list for Austria's preliminary camp consists of: Benedikt Güttl; Florian Trmal; Jozo Rados; Romed Vieider; Filip Krämer; Ian Moschik; Sebastian Käferle; Toni Blazan; Daniel Friedrich; Sebastian Koch; Lorenzo O'Neal; Luka Asceric; Maximilian Hopfgartner; Marvin Ogunsipe.

Austria were drawn in Group C of the FIBA EuroBasket 2017 Qualifiers, together with Denmark, Germany and Netherlands.

FIBA