PARIS (France) - France promise to have a title-contending roster for the FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup 2021 as the country announced a 24-man preliminary squad loaded with star talents such as Juhann Begarin, Victor Wembanyama and Matthew Strazel.

Head coach Federic Crapez nominated 24 players ahead of his first training camp from June 2-14 in Temple sur Lot as he looks to find a team capable of finally getting France a U19 crown. France will be heading to Latvia for the July 3-11 tournament in Daugavpils and Riga having picked up two U19 global medals - both bronzes, in 2007 and 2019.

With the FIBA European youth national team competitions changing their formats this summer, Crapez will have the best of multiple generations available; France traditionally do not mix many players from different age groups for tournaments.

The 2002 generation is already strong, featuring nine players who helped France reach the Semi-Finals of the FIBA U16 European Championship 2018 (Daniel Batcho, Lucas Beaufort, Juhann Begarin, Rudy Demahis Ballou, Clement Frisch, Louis Lesmond, Ibrahim Magassa, Yvan Ouedraogo and Jayson Tchicamboud).

Begarin, Demahis Ballou and Ouedraogo all played a year up and were part of France's team at the FIBA U18 European Championship 2019, where they lost to Turkey in the Quarter-Finals and finished sixth.

While most of the 2002-born nominees have experience with the national team, Strazel would be making his debut in a France jersey. That despite the explosive guard averaging 3.8 points and 1.4 assists in 36 games in the EuroLeague over the last two seasons with ASVEL Villeurbanne.

France's 2003 generation meanwhile reached the Final of the FIBA U16 European Championship 2019, losing to Spain. Six players from that team are in the mix for the U19 World Cup. Naoll Balfourier was part of both the 2018 and 2019 U16 teams while Brice Dessert, Ousmane Dieng, Maxime Raynaud and
Armel Traore are star talents from the generation.

 
But the U19 preliminary squad also includes France's absolute jewel prospect, the 2004-born Wembanyama, who was named to the All-Star Five at the FIBA U16 European Championship 2019 and also made his professional debut with Nanterre this season including a game with 9 points, 10 rebounds and 3 blocks against Gravelines.

Crapez is planning for a second training camp from June 18-29 against in Temple sur Lot. France are drawn into Group C of the showcase in Latvia along with Argentina, Korea and Spain.

FIBA