BEIRUT (2015 FIBA Asia Championship) - Lebanon are hoping to bolster their squad this year with Sagesse big man Julian Khazzouh.

The Australian-born big man, one of the top players in the domestic league, has dual nationality and can play as a Lebanese player.

"We're doing our best so that he can be in our team because we believe in his abilities," Lebanese Basketball Federation President Walid Nassar said to FIBA.com.

"[New national team coach Veselin] Matic wants him."

Khazzouh wears the No. 6 jersey for Sagesse and is a real force in the paint, averaging more than 15 points and nine rebounds per game.

The player is weighing up the offer to wear the national team shirt.

Lebanon are going to compete at the WABA [West Asian Basketball Championship] and the FIBA Asia Championship, the latter of which is a qualifying tournament for the Rio de Janeiro Olympics.

If the team wins the title, it will qualify for the 2016 Summer Games.

The 29-year-old Khazzouh, who was born in Melbourne, learned the sport Down Under.

He made an immediate impact in Australia's National Basketball League while on the books of West Sydney Razorbacks.

At the end of his first year, in February of 2007, the 2.09m power forward/center finished second in the Rookie of the Year voting behind Joe Ingles.

He is a popular player among the Sagesse fans.

This is an exciting time for Lebanese basketball.

The movers and shakers of the sport in the country believe the national team will be a serious contender for the Olympic qualification.

This is our first participation since the ban and we’re building a lot of hopes with Matic - Nassar

"As president of the federation," Nassar said, "I give him (Matic) our full support with the freedom to be the decision-maker of everything.

"He's at the top of everything as the coach of national team and we are really excited to meet our expectations with the good results."

Matic, who once coached in Lebanon's professional league, is expected to be in the country in April and to gather with the national squad at the end of that month.

The preparations for the FIBA Asia Championship have yet to be formalized, with the federation wanting to consult with Matic before setting scheduling friendlies. 

FIBA