GBR - Brits announce squad

LONDON (EuroBasket/FIBA Basketball World Cup) - New Great Britain coach Joe Prunty will have several players from last year's Olympic team in his squad for EuroBasket 2013.

However, the two stars in the group that competed at the London Games, Luol Deng and Joel Freeland, will not be in Slovenia.

Deng, as expected after having the end of his campaign with the Chicago Bulls ruined by an illness that forced him to undergo a spinal tap, needs to continue his recovery while Freeland has elected to work on his game in America in a bid to have a good second season with the Portland Trail Blazers after a disappointing rookie year.

Both will be missed as Great Britain take on France, Germany, Ukraine, Belgium and Israel in Group A of the EuroBasket, a qualifying tournament for the FIBA Basketball World Cup.

The players who did feature at the Olympics that are in the 17-man preliminary squad are Kieron Achara, Eric Boateng, Dan Clark, Kyle Johnson, Andrew Lawrence, Pops Mensah-Bonsu and Drew Sullivan.

Sullivan, the captain, will be vital for Great Britain because of his experience.

The 30-year-old played an average of 20 minutes at last summer's Olympics, where the Brits beat China and nearly upset Spain and Brazil.

"This will be my seventh summer representing my country and I can honestly say I'm enjoying it just as much," he said.

"Everyone in the squad understands the task at hand. We know it will be difficult but it's something we are all looking forward to."

Nate Reinking, a long-time naturalized player from America in the British team, retired after the Olympics but is now on the coaching staff.

Prunty also has newcomers to the senior team set-up in Orlan Jackman, Flo Larkai and Liam Potter.

Devon Van Oostrum, a player in the EuroBasket 2011 squad who was not selected for the Olympics, has a chance to make the team as well as Miles Hesson and Alex Marcutuilo.

Great Britain are hoping to benefit from the work of their development programs.

Eight graduates from past GB Futures teams have been selected for the senior squad again in 2013, including Ogo Adegboye, Matthew Bryan-Amaning, Ashley Hamilton and Justin Robinson.

"I'm excited to be working with both the veteran GB players and the new up and coming talent this summer," Prunty said.

"Myself and my coaching team are ready for the challenge ahead and committed to getting the best out of the squad to make the GB family and fans proud."

In terms of preparation games for Slovenia, the squad will take on Puerto Rico at the Copper Box in the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, London on 11 August.

GB will also have friendly encounters in Finland, Greece, Poland and Spain.

Great Britain squad for EuroBasket: Kieron Achara, Ogo Adegboye, Eric Boateng, Matthew Bryan-Amaning, Dan Clark, Ashley Hamilton, Myles Hesson, Orlan Jackman, Kyle Johnson, Dzaflo Larkai, Andrew Lawrence, Alex Marcotullio, Pops Mensah-Bonsu, Liam Potter, Justin Robinson, Andrew Sullivan and Devon Van Oostrum.

FIBA