By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Omer Yurtseven will not play for Turkey in approaching international fixtures but had revealed and explained his decision to members of the national team, as clarified to Eurohoops by his agent Keith Glass.
Yurtseven, 24, was listed by the Turkish Basketball Federation to be available for the 2022 EuroBasket in September and a couple of preceding games for the 2023 FIBA World Cup Qualifiers in late August. But the towering center of the Miami Heat will not provide his services.
Countering the initial reports about Yurtseven not receiving permission or informing the Turkey national team, his side made clear that communication was constant over the last few months. His representatives specifically informed the national team spokesman as recently as 28 July of his decision rather than unexpectedly opting to skip Ergin Ataman’s training camp at Bormio, Italy.
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Emerging naturally following stints with all junior national teams, Yurtseven jumped into the summer squad playing in the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament held in Victoria, Canada, last summer. More caps were earned in the 2023 FIBA World Cup European Qualifiers via the international windows of the 2021 and 2022 offseasons.
As an undrafted free agent in 2020, he made it all the way up to the NBA and Miami Heat signing a contract in May 2021. Logging 65 games played between the Regular Season and Playoffs, he tallied 5.0 points, 4.6 rebounds, 0.8 assists, 0.3 blocks, and 0.3 steals per contest evolving as a promising asset for the franchise located in Miami.
Photo Credit: FIBA.BASKETBALL