Great Britain - Ben Gordon called up to British basketball squad
Chicago Bulls guard Ben Gordon is the latest NBA player to be selected in the fledgling British basketball team that's trying to qualify for the 2012 Olympic Games. Gordon, who turns 25 on April 4, moved to the United States shortly after he was born in London.
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Chicago Bulls guard Ben Gordon is the latest NBA player to be selected in the fledgling British basketball team that's trying to qualify for the 2012 Olympic Games.
Gordon, who turns 25 on April 4, moved to the United States shortly after he was born in London.
After studying at the University of Connecticut, he was drafted by the Bulls in the first round in 2004. He was one of two Bulls players to appear in all 82 games last season, averaging 21.4 points.
British Basketball named Gordon and his Bulls teammate, Luol Deng, in its 33-man squad Tuesday to play in Eurobasket qualifiers.
Deng made his competitive debut for Britain in August 2007 after the 22-year-old Sudanese native moved to London as a child to escape the conflict in his homeland.
"The prospects are bright for our senior teams this summer due to the talent included on these squad lists. There are a number of younger players on the list who can contribute in the near term and are embarking on a 10-15 year career that will ideally include years of British representation."
Between 15 and 20 British players will be invited to a training camp in May or June to prepare for September's EuroBasket qualifiers against Israel, Czech Republic and Bosnia.
The winner of that group will qualify for the 2009 European Championship in Poland. Basketball's world governing body — FIBA — has ruled that a British team must qualify for the 2009 or 2011 Europeans in order to play at the 2012 Olympics.
England, Wales and Scotland compete individually at world championships and Commonwealth Games, but are part of a combined Britain team for the Olympics.
Other American-based players on the roster are: forward Kieron Achara from Duquesne University in Pittsburgh; center Andy Betts from Arizona State University; forward Matthew Bryan-Amaning from the University of Washington; forward Dante Cunningham from Villanova University in Pennsylvania; forward Ben Eaves from the University of Rhode Island; guard Paul Guede from Tallahasse Community College; guard Matt Guymon from the Oklahoma City University; guard Justin Robinson from Rider University in New Jersey; and forward Shane Walker from the University of Maryland.
The British women's 27-player squad includes former WNBA player Megan Moody and eight players who are studying in the United States.
"This initial squad has a balance of experienced and young players with great potential," head coach Mark Clark said. "The players on this list are aware that to compete at 'A Division' level we will need to step up our level of performance, and I am confident that whoever is ultimately selected for this summer's team is capable of rising to that challenge."