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FINCH MAKES MOVE FOR GORDON (BG4GB)
03/31/2008
 Chris Finch today named Chicago Bulls superstar Ben Gordon in the Great Britain squad for this summer's European Championship qualifiers.
Gordon is still undecided over whether to make his debut for his birth country in group games against Israel, Bosnia and the Czech Republic in September.
But he is scheduled for talks with GB officials this month (April) and Finch has named him, with Bulls team mate and last summer's GB hero Luol Deng, in a provisional 33-man party.
Finch said: "We have yet to sit down with Ben and explain exactly what we are looking for from our players but, obviously, there is a place open to him should he choose to join us."
Watch a short video interview with Chris on the subjust of 'BG4GB' (c) here.
The only player missing from last year's all-conquering GB squad that won promotion from the B Division of the European Championships is retired veteran forward Roger Huggins.
Elsewhere, Finch has placed an emphasis on youth as GB gear up towards the 2012 Olympics and aim to qualify for thr 2009 European Championship Finals in Poland.
The GB boss has called up nine players currently at college in the States, led by Scotsman Kieron Achara who has enjoyed an outstanding senior season at Dusquesne.
And three players from Gran Canaria's renowned youth academy have made the group, including Portland Trailblazers first round draft pick Joel Freeland and exciting 16-year-old prospect Ryan Richards.
Finch also expects to be able to add more experienced European stars Pops Mensah-Bonsu, formerly with the Dallas Mavericks, and Nick George who have been unavailable to make their senior debuts so far.
Finch said: "Once again our goal is to add as more and more talent to the team each summer.
"This year we feel confident we can do that again this if you look at this list. We have also included many young, up and coming players for consideration.
"These are players we are very excited about introducing to the programme and, as ever, our success will be largely determined by the commitment these players make."
The American coach will narrow his pool down from 33 players to 24 for training camp in August before naming 14 players for the six group games.
Only five of the 33 players are from the domestic British Basketball League.
Squad: Achara (Duquesne Univ), Archibald (Azovmash, Ukraine), Bernard (Eldo, Italy), Betts (Seville), Boateng (Arizona State), Boyd (Rosalia, Spain), Bryan-Amaning (Univ of Washington), Clark (Leche Rio, Spain), Cunningham (Villanova Univ), Deng (Chicago), Eaves (Rhode Island Univ), Forbes (Boulazac, France), Freeland (Gran Canaria), George (Alicante), Gordon (Chicago), Guede (Tallahassee College), Guymon (Oklahoma City Univ), Hamilton (Gran Canaria), Hansell (Apoel, Cyprus), Hart (Keravnos, Cyprus), Haslam (Everton), Jones (Guildford), Lenzly (Mons, Belgium), Leven (Newcastle), Mensah-Bonsu (Treviso, Italy), Midgley (Everton), Reinking (Mons), Richards (Gran Canaria), Robinson (Rider Univ), Sanders (Gothia, Sweden), Sullivan (Mons), Walker (Univ of Maryland), Williams (Milton K).
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