The Australian Boomers have announced a 10-man squad headlined by the nation’s top present and future talent ahead of next year’s FIBA Basketball World Cup.
The initial roster announcement includes 10 players who will participate in an August training camp and four-game series against New Zealand. Among those players announced are Olympic stars Joe Ingles and David Andersen and NBA hopeful Matthew Dellavedova.
More exciting is the inclusion of projected NBA lottery pick Dante Exum.
Exum is coming off an All-Tournament performance at the FIBA World Under-19 Championship earlier this month. The 17-year-old is expected to declare for the NBA Draft in 2014 or 2015, dependent upon his decision to attend a US college or not, and is projected as a high lottery pick.
Yet to be announced are the availabilities of current Australian NBA stars Andrew Bogut, Patty Mills and Aron Baynes. A few roster spots remaining so the trio are still a chance to join the squad at some point.
Mills looks set to be a late inclusion to this year’s training camp and tweeted last week he would be in part of the team’s World Cup preparations.
“Well & truly back in the grind of things & couldn’t be more excited to play for Australia… Especially in my home town Canberra!” Mills tweeted on July 19.
Ingles is looking likely to turn down an NBA opportunity this off-season, opting to sign with Israeli club Maccabi Tel Aviv after three successful seasons with Euroleague powerhouse Barcelona.
Boomers 10-man squad: David Andersen (free agent), David Barlow (free agent), Ryan Broekhoff (Valparaiso University, US), Matthew Dellavedova (free agent), Dante Exum (AIS), Adam Gibson (Adelaide 36ers), Joe Ingles (free agent), Nathan Jawai (Galatasaray, Turkey), Brad Newley ( CB Gran Canaria, Spain), Ben Simmons (Montverde Academy High School, US).
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