By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Croatia senior national team selector Damir Mulaomerovic narrowed it down to 24 players focusing on the 2022 EuroBasket.
The Croatian Basketball Federation released Wednesday the preliminary list of 24 players called up by Mulaomerovic, including naturalized Texas-born combo guard Jaleen Smith.
Croatia’s initial list:
Dragan Bender
Bojan Bogdanovic (Utah Jazz)
Dario Dreznjak (Zadar)
Mateo Dreznjak (SC Derby)
Goran Filipovic (Cedevita Olimpija)
Lovro Gnjidic (Cedevita Olimpija)
Mario Hezonja (Real Madrid)
Pavle Marcinkovic (Zadar)
Karlo Matkovic (Cedevita Olimpija)
Dominik Mavra (Zadar)
Toni Nakic (Rio Breogan)
Toni Perkovic (Split)
Roko Prkacin (Girona)
Kresimir Radovcic (Cibona)
Ivan Ramljak (Slask Wroclaw)
Roko Rogic (Acqua S.Bernardo Cantu)
Matej Rudan (Mega MIS)
Zeljko Sakic (Lietkabelis)
Dario Saric (Phoenix Suns)
Krunoslav Simon
Sven Smailagic (Nevezis-OPTIBET)
Jaleen Smith (Alba Berlin)
Ante Zizic (Anadolu Efes)
Ivica Zubac (Los Angeles Clippers)
Dario Saric is set to return to action for the first time since the torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee suffered in Game 1 of the 2021 NBA Finals. Getting back in shape ahead of the next NBA season is combined with representing his country in the EuroBasket.
Croatia is part of Group C in the preliminary round. Playing in Milan, it will face Greece, Great Britain, Estonia, Italy, and Ukraine from 2 to 8 September. The top four national teams will advance to the next round and compete in the knockout stage stretching from 10 to 18 September in Berlin.
Despite featuring NBA players Bojan Bogdanovic and Ivica Zubac, Croatia was recently knocked out of the 2023 FIBA World Cup European Qualifiers after being forced to last place in Group C behind Finland, Slovenia, and Sweden.
Photo Credit: FIBA.BASKETBALL