MELBOURNE (Australia) - Australia head coach Darren Perry has focused on high energy defense and unselfish play as he named his 12-man roster for the FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup 2019.

Perry has named 10 players from the Australia team the won the country's first title at the FIBA U18 Asian Championship 2018, including Sam Froling, Kody Stattmann, Kyle Bowen and Isaiah Lee. There were also two players who appeared at the FIBA U17 Basketball World Cup 2018 in Wani Swaka Lo Buluk and Tamuri Wigness. 

The 12 players,  which also includes Alex Ducas who would be making his FIBA debut for Australia, were chosen after a selection camp at the Basketball Australia’s Centre of Excellence from March 8-11.

"We had a really competitive selection camp," Perry said. "With 21 players on the floor as well as some guys currently based in the USA who were unable to attend, it made for some really difficult selection decisions."

Perry, who was the U18 coach last summer in Thailand, said defense was a major consideration while he was going through his options.

“OUR AIM IS TO DEVELOP A GROUP COMMITMENT ON DEFENSE AND IF WE BUY INTO THAT SYSTEM, WE HAVE THE BELIEF THAT WE CAN CHALLENGE FOR A GOLD MEDAL.”- Perry

"We’re looking to play a disruptive, high-energy style of defense and that requires contributions from the entire group," Perry said. "As a group we want to play un-selfish basketball and celebrate everyone’s success." 

Perry added: "Our aim is to develop a group commitment on defense and if we buy into that system, we have the belief that we can challenge for a gold medal."

Australia have reached the podium twice in the U19 history, winning the crown in 2003 and finishing second in 1995. The Emus also took fourth place in 2009 and 2013. 

The Emus will hold one more training camp in Melbourne in mid-June before heading to Latvia for a warm-up tournament for the U19 World Cup, where Australia have been drawn into Group B with reigning champions Canada, Latvia and Mali.

FIBA