Four set for debuts as 12-man GB roster named
No less than four players will pick up their first Great Britain Senior Men’s caps as Head Coach Marc Steutel has named his 12-man roster for Friday night’s FIBA World Cup Qualifier against Belgium at Newcastle’s Vertu Motors Arena (7:30pm).
Hoopsfix All-Star Classic alumni Amin Adamu, Michael Belle, and Jelani Watson-Gayle, along with Noah Horchler have all been selected for the first time, whilst the experienced heads of Kyle Johnson, Ben Mockford and Carl Wheatle have been tasked with leading the team.
The National Team will take to the court tomorrow against Belgium before travelling to Belgrade to face the Serbians on February 27th as Steutel and his staff conclude what has been a historic FIBA World Cup Qualifying campaign, with GB reaching the second qualifying phase for the first time in their history.
GB Senior Men’s Roster
Name, position, age, height, club
Amin Adamu, G, 25, 6’5″, Kapfenberg Bulls (AUT)
Michael Belle, F, 19, 6’6″, Espoirs Strasbourg (FRA)
Quinn Ellis, G, 19, 6’2″, Monferatto (ITA)
Noah Horchler, F, 25, 6’8″, Aris B.C. (GRE)
Kyle Johnson, G, 34, 6’5″, Newcastle Eagles (GBR)
Callum Lawson, F, 26, 6’6″, Valur (ISL)
Aaron Menzies, C, 26, 7’3″, Leicester Riders (GBR)
Ben Mockford, G, 33, 6’2″, Newcastle Eagles (GBR)
Josh Sharma, C, 26, 7’0″, London Lions (GBR)
Jelani Watson-Gayle, G, 24, 6’1″, Bristol Flyers (GBR)
Carl Wheatle, F, 24, 6’7″, Pistoia (ITA)
Jordan Williams, F, 27, 6’8″, Hubner Nyiregyhaza (HUN)
Speaking following the confirmation of the 12-man roster, Head Coach Marc Steutel said:
“The thing that I’ve been most pleased with this week is the group’s intent to try and take on the concepts we believe we need to implement to be successful. It is a really exciting time for the Men’s programme, and being able to give an opportunity to these players only adds to that excitement.
“We’re obviously bitterly disappointed that qualification for the World Cup is out of our reach, after reaching a point where we’d never been previously as a team, but this is an exciting opportunity to use high-level competitive matches to do the right thing for the programme.
“Make no bones about it, we’re trying to win tomorrow, but we’re also going to maximise the opportunity to do the right thing for the future of the programme, allowing these really talented younger guys to play through some experiences they need to have to put the programme in the right place for years to come.
“Camp has been extremely positive and I’m excited to see how we pull together on the floor tomorrow night.”
Coaching Staff:
Head Coach: Marc Steutel
Assistant Coach: Gareth Murray
Assistant Coach: Jackson Gibbons
Director of Basketball Operations / Assistant Coach: Jamie Smith
Head Performance Analyst: Adam Sewell
Performance Staff:
Head of Delegation: Russell Bell
General Manager: Dan Clark
Team Manager: Chris Morris
Head of Sport Science & Medicine: Tom Cresswell
Physiotherapist: Aynkaran Vigneswaran
Team Doctor: Dr Jonathan Williams
Media Officer: Jamie Thomas
Tickets are still available for the Friday night clash and can be purchased here.
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