Standard Life GB Men Announce Strong Roster

The roster, which contains 17 players, includes the usual mix of the experienced campaigner and NBA-powerhouse Luol Deng alongside returning familiar faces of Rob Archibald and Joel Freeland and young talent eager to make their mark. Detroit Pistons star Ben Gordon is looking to make his debut with the GB team this year after injury ruled him out last season.

Finch is pleased with the calibre of players he will be working with over the coming months ahead of EuroBasket but also leading into the London 2012 Olympics. He also acknowledges the dedication required from the players to compete at the top level.

"Each summer one of our goals is to get our best talent together. In addition, we are constantly looking to work with younger players and continue to evaluate those who we see as real contenders to help us now and for years to come," he commented.

"This collection of players accomplishes these objectives. Now it's incumbent on our guys to continue to make the commitment to our program, and arrive at Cobham in peak shape determined to take GB to a new level."

Pops Mensah-Bonsu will not be joining his Standard Life GB teammates for this summer's EuroBasket campaign due to a recent shoulder injury for which he has undergone surgery and will be having rehabilitation for the coming months.

He said: "I am very disappointed to not be participating in this summer's activities with the GB team. But I am also confident in the coaches and the players representing GB, and I know that they will do the country proud. Although it will be difficult to watch, I will be supporting the team along the way, hoping and praying for the best."

The Standard Life GB men's squad will congregate for the start of camp in Cobham on 30 July to commence preparations for this summer's EuroBasket tournament. They have a busy schedule prior to travelling to Lithuania, starting with two test matches at ACS Cobham where they will take on the Netherlands (7 Aug) and Nigeria (9 Aug). GB will then compete in the first tournament in London's Olympic Park as part of LOCOG's 'London Prepares' series from 16-21 August. World class opposition has been secured and Great Britain will face Asian champions China, Oceania champions Australia as well as traditional European power-houses Serbia, France and Croatia in a round-robin format over six days. GB's Eurobasket preparation will be rounded off with a final test-game against Latvia in Riga on August 27^th.

The first round of EuroBasket will be hosted in Panevezys where the Standard Life GB men will take on the home nation Lithuania (31 Aug), Turkey (1 Sept), Spain (2 Sept), Qualifier 2 (4 Sept) and Poland (5 Sept).

Standard Life GB senior men's squad:

Name	Home Nation	Club
Achara, Kieron	Scotland	Barcellona, ITA
Adegboye, Ogo	England	St Bonaventure University, USA-College
Archibald, Robert	Scotland	Unicaja, ESP
Boateng, Eric	England	Austin Toros, USA-NBAD
Boyd, Flinder	England	AEK, GRE
Bryan-Amaning, Matthew	England	University of Washington, USA-College
Clark, Dan	England	Estudiantes, ESP
Deng, Luol	England	Chicago Bulls, USA-NBA
Ekperigin, Laurence	England	Angelico Biella, ITA
Freeland, Joel	England	Unicaja, ESP
Gordon, Ben	England	Detroit Pistons, USA-NBA
Hamilton, Ashley	England	Loyola Maramount University, USA-College
Jones, James	England	Everton, ENG
Lenzly, Mike	England	CEZ Nymburk, CZE
Reinking, Nate	England	Mersey Tigers, ENG
Robinson, Justin	England	Rider University, USA-College
Sullivan, Andrew	England	Mersey Tigers, ENG