France announce powerful roster for EuroBasket 2015

PARIS (EuroBasket 2015) - On a hectic Sunday for the defending European champions, France became the first EuroBasket 2015 participants to announce their final 12-man squad, honoured Florent Pietrus and then breezed past Ukraine in a warm-up game.

France head coach Vincent Collet chose to announce earlier than expected the team that will defend the EuroBasket crown on home soil in September and decided to release point guard Thomas Heurtel and center Mouhammadou Jaiteh.

The young big man knew from the start of training camp that he was included in the 14-strong preliminary roster as an exciting future prospect that France wanted to ease into the senior national team mix.

The fact that Heurtel did not make the final cut however is a testament to the abundance of talent and options that France have at all positions, especially since Tony Parker and Nando De Colo, who missed out on last summer's FIBA Basketball World Cup, are now back in the backcourt of the EuroBasket champions.

"After having a lot of conversations with my staff, and after talking to Thomas [Heurtel], I told him that we will not retain him in the final list of 12 players," Collet said.

"It was not an easy decision and when we started preparations, this thought had not even crossed our minds.

"Tony Parker will take up many minutes and play more during the competition.

"In making the decision, I also took into consideration the rise of Nando De Colo, who feels comfortable and plays at his best.

"Therefore, behind those two, there is only limited playing time and to share those few minutes between Antoine [Diot] and Thomas was not the best solution."

"Regarding Mouhammadou, we decided to keep him in practices so that he continues to work with the team as he has done since the start of preparations, while indicating that he would not be included on the EuroBasket roster."

Two years ago, coach Collet had decided to include the then 23-year-old Heurtel in his 12-man roster for EuroBasket 2013 in the face of strong objections and was vindicated, as the playmaker flourished into one of the best European players at his position.

Heurtel stepped in for the absent Parker at the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup and turned heads with his superb performances as France's starting point guard.

"I am surprised and disappointed not to be part of the team that will play the EuroBasket in France, after the World Cup and the season that I had," Heurtel said.

"Now I just want to wish good luck to my team-mates who work hard every day in order to win a second European title."

Consequently, the 12-man French roster that will embark on the EuroBasket title defence starting 5 September in Montpellier consists of Alexis Ajinca, Nicolas Batum, Nando De Colo, Boris Diaw, Antoine Diot, Evan Fournier, Mickael Gelabale, Rudy Gobert, Charles Kahudi, Joffrey Lauvergne, Tony Parker, Florent Pietrus.

This French team, with the addition of Jaiteh as the 13th player, took to the floor in the spectacular arena of Vendespace on Sunday night to play against Ukraine in the second friendly between the two teams within 48 hours.

Similarly to the Friday game, France jumped in the driver's seat right after the opening tip to lead by double digits, 29-16, already at the end of the first quarter and stretch the gap to 52-35 by the half-time buzzer.

Ukraine were much improved in comparison to their Friday display and prevented the hosts from increasing the difference further in the third frame, but France had enough left for a late push and finished on a 16-4 burst to register a 95-63 victory.

Parker paced the French with 19 points, 8 rebounds and three assists, while De Colo and Gobert added 14 points and eight rebounds apiece, the latter also blocking two shots.

For Ukraine, Maksym Pustozvonov poured in 16 points and Jerome Randle added 10 points in a losing effort.

"It was a better game than Friday's as Ukraine put in a better effort," commented Collet afterwards.

"The game helped us make some tests on defense and we saw that Parker and Gobert have built a great partnership on the court.

"Rudy of course has improved greatly from last year, he is much more aggressive and makes good use of his physical advantage."

Prior to the friendly clash, French Basketball Federation (FFBB) President Jean-Pierre Siutat presented veteran Pietrus with a national team jersey with the number 200 on the back, as the 34-year-old forward who became a senior international in 2002 has reached the 200 international caps.

France final roster for EuroBasket 2015: Alexis Ajinca, Nicolas Batum, Nando De Colo, Boris Diaw, Antoine Diot, Evan Fournier, Mickael Gelabale, Rudy Gobert, Charles Kahudi, Joffrey Lauvergne, Tony Parker, Florent Pietrus.

Go to eurobasket2015.org for complete coverage of EuroBasket 2015.

FIBA