Seven of the 21 national teams that will take to the floor in Greece at the FIBA U20 European Championship Division B premiere on 15 July, will feel out of place in the tournament.

They are the seven teams which, during last summer's Division A event in Italy, drew the short straw in the most merciless relegation battle in the history of youth European championships.

Great Britain is among those seven sides but they rightfully believe they will have an important component on their 2016 squad that will boost their chances in the battle for promotion back to Division A - experience.

Four 1996-born players who had taken part in the 2015 championship are included in the 22-strong preliminary squad for July's tournament announced by head coach Andreas Kapoulas.

Power forward Dean Williams of Augusta University had averaged 6.2 points and 3.9 rebounds in that tournament while shooting guard Dwayne Lautier-Ogunleye, who had averaged 5.6 points, 2.1 boards and 1.1 assists in the Division A event, is coming off an impressive freshman year in the NCAA with Bradley University as he earned All-Team honours in his Conference.

Meanwhile Jules Dang Akodo is a 1996-born point guard who dished out 2.9 assists on average to go with his 5.3 points per game in last year's championship and winger Pharroh Gordon, of St Rose College, had 3.1 points and 1.3 boards in the 2015 event.

Kapoulas took over as head coach of the U20 side this summer but had been an assistant of Douglas Leichner during both years that Great Britain played in Division A, so the Greek coach is very familiar with these four more experienced players.

That does not mean however that the 1996-born contingent have a guaranteed place in the final 12-man squad, as there is a wealth of talent among players coming through the ranks of last year's U18 England side which took part in the Division B tournament of that age category.

Kyle Carey, who led that team in scoring with 14.4 points on average and is excelling at the Lancashire Spinners, Andre Arissol of Leicester Riders and Shaquille Walters of Peckham Pride headline the 1997-born group.

The 22 candidates will attend a preparation camp at the University of Essex from 27 June and at the beginning of July Great Britain will compete in a warm-up tournament in Portugal where they will go up against Sweden, Belarus and the hosts.

The Brits will play one more game against Portugal and also face Greece prior to the start of the FIBA U20 European Championship Division B in Chalkida.

Great Britain were drawn in Group C, where they will play Albania, Ireland, Kosovo, Netherlands and hosts Greece.

FIBA