SAN SEBASTIAN (FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament) - Andy Ogide has been to one Olympics already.

The Lagun Aro GBC forward hails from Atlanta, Georgia, and the Summer Games were staged there in 1996.

Now, just several months away from the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Venezuela, Ogide has a shot of making Nigeria’s national team and trying to help them reach London.

There are three places still available for the Games and the Nigerians will be among the 12 sides trying to claim one of them in Caracas.

They will play in Group B against Lithuania, a team that has played at every Olympics since 1992, and hosts Venezuela.

“I'll definitely go to camp and we'll see what happens,” Ogide said to FIBA.com.

“Hopefully, I'll make the team. I want to go.

“I know we didn't qualify, but I'll go to camp and see what happens.”

Ogide did join Nigeria for some of their workouts before Afrobasket 2011 but did not play for the team at the event in Madagascar, where the national side finished third.

Based in Spain

One thing that should help the former standout at Colorado State make the Nigeria squad this summer is that he will have a year of professional experience under his belt.

He began his career in the LEB with Breogan and is now on the books of Lagun Aro, who played in the Copa del Rey on Thursday night in Barcelona and were eliminated by Caja Laboral.

“I'm getting used to the game here and trying to help out my teammates as much as I can,” he said.

“I love being in Spain so far so hopefully I can stay a little longer.

“I was doing well (in Breogan) but then kind of fell out with the team a little bit and decided to leave.

“Lagun Aro called me up, so I guess I did well enough when I was playing there.”

Minutes have been sparse for Ogide with Lagun Aro, a team based in San Sebastian.

The level of basketball in the Liga Endesa is very high.

“It's very good here,” he said.

“I love playing basketball against tough competition.

“I have no problem getting up for every game because you are going to face great players and that's one thing I'm excited about.”

He is taking things one day at a time.

Next season, he could join a new team in Spain or in a different country.

“I don't know,” he said.

“My agent handles all that.

“I would love to play here as long as possible, but you never know what happens.

“I'll go back home in the summer, NBA workouts and stuff and see where my career takes me.

“But I would love to play in Spain again if I had the opportunity.”

Nigeria chance

When it comes to this summer, Ogide knows he will have to be in top shape, and form, to make the Nigeria team.

“They have a lot of talent,” Ogide said.

“I have talked to one of the coaches when I was with my last team, so that's good.

“I know there will be good  competition going into the camp but I'm just looking forward to the opportunity.”

Should he make the national side and help Nigeria then earn a place in the Olympic tournament, there would be another reason for Ogide to be excited.

“I have family in London as well so I'd love to be able to play there,” he said.

Right now, Ogide can at least dream of making the squad and playing at the Olympics.

“It would mean everything to me,” he said.

“I'm from Atlanta and I was able to go to the Olympic Games in Atlanta and the atmosphere there was unreal.

“I never dreamed I might have a chance of playing there so it would mean the world to me.”

FIBA