Georgia bring out their big guns for FIBA EuroBasket 2017

TBILISI (FIBA EuroBasket 2017) – Georgia plan to be at their strongest for FIBA EuroBasket 2017 with all of the country's big names featured on the 17-man preliminary squad, presented by national team head coach Ilias Zouros.

Having guided the team through the Qualifiers last year, Georgia's long-serving 33-year-old captain Zaza Pachulia headlines a dangerous list of players coach Zouros has up his sleeve.

Although the national team may not have the starry cast of his Golden State Warriors, the veteran big man will have plenty of help coming his way from the likes of Tornike Shengelia, Viktor Sanikidze and Giorgi Shermadini.

The team's naturalized scoring ace Michael Dixon Jr. demonstrated he is a good fit during the FIBA EuroBasket 2017 Qualifiers, while point guard George Tsintsadze also played well.

What is more, the much-awaited return of 30-year-old two-guard Manuchar Markoishvili should give coach Zouros another trustworthy two-way option on the wings after lacking in guard depth last year.

VIDEO: #GNT head coach @ZourosIlias on #EuroBasket2017: "This summer we gonna represent the country as a team." (0:40) pic.twitter.com/GCQj6b3z3D

— GBF (@_GeoBasketball) January 16, 2017

While not expected to make the cut this year, the Greek playcaller has also extended an invitation to the country's rising star Goga Bitadze, a 17-year-old standout, who will join the team after the FIBA U20 European Championship 2017 Division B in Romania.

The open-ended 17-player squad announced this week could potentially be expanded to include some members of the reserve team, which will head out to China at the end of June.

After making their FIBA EuroBasket debut back in 2011, Georgia have qualified for every single tournament since, with FIBA EuroBasket 2017 marking their fourth consecutive appearance.

They will play the Group Phase in Tel Aviv, having been drawn to the Group B alongside Germany, Italy, Lithuania, Ukraine and the hosts Israel.

FIBA