GB Men: Veterans highlight 24-man FIBA World Cup 2023 Qualifying squad
Great Britain’s 24-man squad for the first window of FIBA World Cup 2023 Qualifiers has been selected.
GB were drawn into Group B alongside Greece, Turkey, and Belarus for the first round of FIBA World Cup 2022 Qualifying which will take place over three windows in November, February 2022, and June 2022. Games will be played on a home and away basis with GB scheduled to play Greece at the Vertu Motors Arena in Newcastle on 25 November and Turkey at the Sinan Erdem Dome in Istanbul on 28 November.
The Great Britain Men’s National Team enters World Cup Qualifying in unprecedented form having now won 11 of their past 13 games. A 94-73 victory over Tokyo Olympic silver medallists France and a thrilling 83-81 buzzer beating win over Olympic participants Germany in February secured GB’s place in next summer’s FIBA EuroBasket championships.
The 24-man squad is built around a core group of veteran players who have committed to every international window during Nate Reinking’s tenure as head coach. This special group of ever-presents includes Dan Clark, Ashley Hamilton, Myles Hesson, Dwayne Lautier-Ogunleye, Ben Mockford, Luke Nelson, Teddy Okereafor, and Gabe Olaseni. The selection of those eight along with GB regulars Gareth Murray, Tarik Phillip, Jacob Round, and Ovie Soko sees all 12 players from February’s EuroBasket 2022 Qualifying window named in the 24.
Ten further players with national team experience, Jamell Anderson, Kavell Bigby-Williams, Kyle Johnson, Sacha Killeya-Jones, Kareem Queeley, Morayo Soluade, Josh Steel, Devon Van Oostrum, Carl Wheatle, and Akwasi Yeboah, are also shortlisted. Aaron Menzies and Deane Williams are the only players in the 24 who are yet to make an appearance for the men’s national team.
The coaching staff that successfully led GB to EuroBasket 2022 Qualification returns for the new campaign with Marc Steutel taking the lead as acting head coach with support from assistant coaches Andreas Kapoulas and Jamie Smith.
Ironman Okereafor will set a new record for most consecutive international games played if he is selected for the first game against Greece. Okereafor, 29 yesterday, tied the current record of 49 consecutive games, which has been held by Bill McInnes since 1976, in February against France. Dan Clark (108 caps) moves closer to becoming GB’s all-time Men’s International Cap winner with only Eric Boateng (116 caps) ahead of him.
GB play Greece on 25 November and Turkey on 28 November. The final 12-man rosters will be confirmed ahead of each game.
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Great Britain Men’s National Team Roster – FIBA World Cup 2023 Qualifying – November 2021
| NAME | POS | AGE | HEIGHT | CLUB TEAM (2020-21) | CAPS* |
| Jamell Anderson | F | 31 | 6’7” | Manchester Giants (GBR) | 2 |
| Kavell Bigby-Williams | F/C | 26 | 6’11” | Anwil Wloclawek (POL) | 6 |
| Dan Clark | F/C | 33 | 6’11” | Manchester Giants (GBR) | 108 |
| Ashley Hamilton | F | 33 | 6’7” | Basquet Coruna (ESP) | 28 |
| Myles Hesson | F | 31 | 6’6” | Saga Ballooners (JPN) | 45 |
| Kyle Johnson | G | 32 | 6’5” | Unattached | 83 |
| Sacha Killeya-Jones | F/C | 23 | 6’11” | Hapoel Gilboa Galil (ISR) | 8 |
| Dwayne Lautier-Ogunleye | G | 25 | 6’3” | APU Udine (ITA) | 8 |
| Aaron Menzies | C | 25 | 7’3” | Alicante (ESP) | 0 |
| Ben Mockford | G | 32 | 6’2” | Cheshire Phoenix (GBR) | 43 |
| Gareth Murray | F | 37 | 6’7” | Glasgow Rocks (GBR) | 62 |
| Luke Nelson | G | 26 | 6’3” | ESSMLe Portel (FRA) | 25 |
| Teddy Okereafor | G | 29 | 6’4” | Cheshire Phoenix (GBR) | 49 |
| Gabe Olaseni | C | 29 | 6’10” | Darussafaka (TUR) | 40 |
| Tarik Phillip | G | 28 | 6’3” | Reyer Venezia (ITA) | 10 |
| Kareem Queeley | G/F | 20 | 6’4” | San Pablo Purgos (ESP) | 1 |
| Jacob Round | G | 21 | 6’4” | CB Zamora (ESP) | 3 |
| Ovie Soko | F | 30 | 6’7” | Shiga Lakestars (JPN) | 12 |
| Morayo Soluade | G/F | 26 | 6’5” | Basquet Coruna (ESP) | 6 |
| Devon Van Oostrum | G | 28 | 6’3” | CB Penas Huesca (ESP) | 40 |
| Carl Wheatle | F | 23 | 6’7” | Pistoia (ITA) | 15 |
| Deane Williams | F | 25 | 6’8” | Saint-Quentin (FRA) | 0 |
| Akwasi Yeboah | F | 24 | 6’6” | Saint-Chamond Basket (FRA) | 4 |
Coaching & Performance Staff:
Acting Head Coach: Marc Steutel
Assistant Coach: Jamie Smith
Assistant Coach: Andreas Kapoulas
Head Performance Analyst: Adam Sewell
Team Manager & Head of Delegation: Chris Morris
Head Sports Therapist: Tom Cresswell
Physiotherapist: Aaron Wharton
Covid-19 Compliance Officer: Kevin Campbell-Karn
Team Doctor: Dr Matthew Brown
*International Caps are accurate as of the start of the November 2021 FIBA World Cup 2023 Qualifying Window.