Team GB basketball squad announced for Olympics 2012

Standard Life GB men have announced the squad for the 2012 Olympics.

Coach Chris Finch has named his most experienced squad in the seven year history of the programme as the former Sheffield Shark prepares to take Britain into the Olympics for only the second time in their history.

Jelson Homes DMU Leicester Riders’ forward Drew Sullivan and One Health Sharks Sheffield pointguard Nate Reinking are included in the 12-man roster, with Mersey Tigers’ youngster Myles Hesson leaving the squad having forced his way into contention following a fine season with Tony Garbelotto’s team.

The full squad, with (name; age; born; home nation; current club in brackets) is as follows:

Kieron Achara (29; Stirling; Scotland; Manresa, Spain)

Robert Archibald (32; Paisley; Scotland; Zaragoza, Spain)

Eric Boateng (26; London; England; Peristeri, Greece)

Dan Clark (23; Greenwich; England; Estudiantes, Spain)

Luol Deng (27; Wau, Sudan; England; Chicago Bulls, USA)

Joel Freeland (25; Aldershot; England; Unicaja Malaga, Spain)

Kyle Johnson (23; Toronto, Canada; England; APOEL, Cyprus)

Andrew Lawrence (22; Surrey; England; College of Charleston, USA)

Mike Lenzly (31; Oxford; England; Nymburk, Czech Republic)

Pops Mensa-Bonsu (28; Tottenham; England; Beşiktaş, Turkey)

Nate Reinking (38; Ohio, USA; England; Sheffield Sharks)

Andrew Sullivan (32; Euston; England; Leicester Riders)

As his side prepare for the Games, Finch commented: “Cutting down to a final 12 is always difficult.  We had a really productive camp in Houston and to finally announce the Olympic teamhere in Loughborough is fantastic.  The next four weeks provide us with outstanding competition leading up to the Olympics, which is just what is required before doing battle within our group come Games time.”

Deng is clearly looking forward ot playing on the world’s biggest stage: “We have all worked very hard for this opportunity and to have the final 12 named is exciting.  The next few weeks will fly by and I can’t wait to step on the court with my teammates at the Games.  We plan to make Great Britain proud.”
Mensah-Bonsu echoed those words: “The experience at the camp in Loughborough has made us all realise that the Olympics are just around the corner.  I am proud to be a member of this team and can’t wait to represent my country on the largest stage.”