BRA - Naturalized point guard an option for Magnano

RIO DE JANEIRO (Olympics) - Brazil expect to have Bauru’s American point guard Larry Taylor in their preliminary squad for the Olympics.

The confederation and national team coach Ruben Magnano have been told the player should be naturalized this week.

Taylor has expressed an interest in wearing the Brazil shirt in international competition and trained with the national side ahead of last year’s FIBA Americas Championship.

He ultimately did not go to Mar del Plata because the naturalization process was not completed.

Brazil reached the Final to earn a trip to the London Games before falling to hosts Argentina in the gold-medal game.

"He's a great player, experienced and has very good technique,” Magnano said.

“Once it’s official, then we can talk about him.”

Brazil are led by point guard Marcelo Huertas of Barcelona and the side had Nezinho dos Santos and Rafael Luz last summer.

A player that has been raising eyebrows this year in Spain’s Liga Endesa has been Lagun Aro’s Raul Neto, a point guard who played for Brazil at the 2010 FIBA World Championship as an 18-year-old but was the last cut from last year’s side.

Brazil will play at the Olympics for the first time since 1996 when they run onto the floor in London.

FIBA