Positive news has come for the Australian Boomers in the heaving form of big man Nathan Jawai. The Minnesota Timberwolves’ power forward is a semi-surprise late inclusion in the squad, which is preparing in camp for their friendly series against Argentina this month.
Jawai bolsters the big man stocks in a squad that is somewhat point guard-heavy, with numerous high-profile Aussie bigs unavailable due to injury and overseas playing commitments. He will be playing alongside the likes of Luke Nevill, Alex Loughton, Aron Baynes and Ater Majok down low.
Prior to Jawai’s inclusion, the squad looks like this:
Australian Men’s Basketball Squad for Perth Camp
Name/Height/Age/Position/Club
Patrick MILLS / 183cm / 21 / Guard / Portland Trail Blazers (US)
Adam GIBSON / 188cm / 23 / Guard / Gold Coast Blaze
Damian MARTIN / 188cm / 25 / Guard / Perth Wildcats
Jason CADEE / 185cm / 19 / Guard / Gold Coast Blaze
Steven MARKOVIC / 190cm / 25 / Guard / KK Crvena Zvezda Beograd (Serbia)
Joe INGLES / 203cm / 22 / Forward / CB Granada (Spain)
Matthew DELLAVEDOVA / 190cm / 19 / Guard / St Mary’s University (US)
Hugh GREENWOOD / 187cm / 18 / Guard / AIS
Brad NEWLEY / 198cm / 25 / Guard / Lietuvos Rytas (Lithuania)
Stephen WEIGH / 198cm / 21 / Guard / Perth Wildcats
Mark WORTHINGTON / 202cm / 27 / Forward / Brose Baskets (Germany)
Ater MAJOK / 208cm / 22 / Forward / University of Connecticut (US)
Alex LOUGHTON / 205cm / 27 / Forward / Cairns Taipans
Aron BAYNES / 207cm / 23 / Centre / Lietuvos Rytas (Lithuania)
Luke NEVILL / 216cm / 24 / Centre / Melbourne Tigers
Head Coach: Brett Brown
Assistant Coach: Shane Heal
Assistant Coach: Andrej Lemanis
Physiotherapist: Steven Evans
Doctor: Peter Harcourt
Massage Therapist: Diana Glazer
Manager: Nic Mercer
From the Basketball Australia press release:
“I’m really excited to rejoin the Boomers. When we played in Australia against New Zealand last year we didn’t go too well so I’m excited to come back and be with the team again and hopefully start on the path towards the World Champs,” Jawai said.
“Argentina are the number one team in the world so I’m excited to play them, they’re a great team.”
Jawai made his Boomers debut in 2009 and was a part of the Australian team that overcame Argentina 110-107 in double overtime in Brazil in August, he finished that game with 22 points and seven rebounds.
“I’m going to feel more comfortable playing them in a home environment with our fans behind us,” Jawai said.
“We can repeat our win from 2009 if we play our best. There are a couple of guys available now that weren’t available last time we played Argentina such as Patty (Mills) so it should be a great three-game series coming up.”
The Australian team to contest the series will be named at the conclusion of the camp on June 24 followed by the World Challenge fixtures in Perth on June 25, at the State Netball Hockey Centre in Melbourne on June 27 and the final game at Brett Maher Court at The Dome in Adelaide on June 29.
All training sessions throughout the five-day camp from June 20-24 at the WA Basketball Centre are open to media.
Boomers Training Camp Schedule
Sunday 20 June: 5.15pm-7.30pm Training at WA Basketball Centre
Monday 21 June: 9.30am-11.45am Training at WA Basketball Centre
5.15pm-7.30pm Training at WA Basketball Centre
Tuesday 22 June: 9.30am-11.45am Training at WA Basketball Centre
Wednesday 23 June: 9.30am-11.45am Training at WA Basketball Centre
5.15pm-7.30pm Training at WA Basketball Centre
Thursday 24 June: 9.30am-11.45am Training at WA Basketball Centre
Boomers World Challenge 2010
Game One Friday 25 June Challenge Stadium, Perth
Tickets from www.ticketmaster.com.au or call 136 100
Game Two Sunday 27 June State Netball Hockey Centre, Melbourne
Tickets from www.ticketmaster.com.au or call 136 100
Game Three Tuesday 29 June Brett Maher Court at The Dome, Adelaide
Tickets from www.proticket.com.au or call 1300 12 10 12
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