Poland trim EuroBasket 2015 preliminary squad

WARSAW (EuroBasket 2015) - Less than a week after announcing a 23-strong preliminary list of players for EuroBasket 2015, Poland head coach Mike Taylor has already decided which 16 of those men will report to training camp.

Taylor and the Polish Federation announced on Friday a slimmed-down, 16-strong EuroBasket preliminary roster which presents one important new addition, while two notable names have been scratched off from the initial list.

The new arrival comes in the shape of sharp-shooting guard A.J. Slaughter, who has acquired Polish citizenship.

The 27-year-old American-born player had an excellent first season in the Turkish Airlines Euroleague with Greek powerhouse Panathinaikos, averaging 9.7 points, two rebounds and 1.7 assists.

"I am glad that the process of granting Polish citizenship to A.J. Slaughter has been completed," coach Taylor said.

"I'd like to thank the Polish Federation for bringing this case to a happy ending.

"Adding Slaughter in the rotation is another step forward in order to maximize the potential of our team and will make us even more competitive at the EuroBasket.

"He is an outstanding talent and at the same time he is a great young guy."

While Slaughter bolsters Poland's backcourt, both notable subtractions have to do with their front line.

Neither FC Barcelona forward/center Maciej Lampe nor Le Mans Sarthe Basket power forward Michal Ignerski will take part in Poland's EuroBasket 2015 campaign after all.

The inclusion of these two big men on the initial list was somewhat surprising.

Ignerski, who is now 35, had announced his retirement from international duty following EuroBasket 2013, while Lampe did not enter coach Taylor's plans when the American tactician took over the reins of the Polish national team, last summer.

Youngsters Michal Michalak of Trefl Sopot and Tomasz Gielo, who played for Liberty Flames in the NCAA this year, were also not selected.

On the other hand, the up-and-coming duo of winger Mateusz Ponitka and center Przemyslaw Karnowski were included in the 16-strong roster and are poised to play important roles in Poland's final EuroBasket squad.

"We're building on the success of the qualification campaign last year and we put great emphasis on team chemistry," Taylor explained.

"The extended squad we announced earlier is full of great players but we've called to the training camp those that give us an excellent balance between experienced veterans and the younger generation."

Taylor will have 15 of the players on this preliminary roster available on 20 July, when Poland's training camp gets under way in the town of Walbrzych.

Washington Wizards center and Poland's big star Marcin Gortat meanwhile will join preparations after 1st August, as is the norm for players under contract in the NBA.

Poland preliminary squad for EuroBasket 2015: Dardan Berisha, Aaron Cel, Michal Chylinski, Aleksander Czyz, Marcin Gortat, Karol Gruszecki, Adam Hrycaniuk, Przemyslaw Karnowski, Lukasz Koszarek, Damian Kulig, Mateusz Ponitka, Robert Skibniewski, AJ Slaughter, Michal Sokolowski, Adam Waczynski, Przemyslaw Zamojski.

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

FIBA