By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
The next chapter for Jeremy Sochan does not include the 2022 EuroBasket and playing for Poland in Prague.
“After long discussions with the San Antonio Spurs, my agent and family, we decided that I should stay in San Antonio and continue preparing for my first season in the NBA, the most important and longest season of my career so far,” said Sochan, per the Polish Basketball Association with some help from Google Translate.
Sochan, 19, was selected by the San Antonio Spurs with the ninth overall pick of the 2022 NBA draft. He was forced to sit out the 2022 NBA2K23 Summer League after entering the NBA’s health and safety protocol. But is determined to get himself ready for the 2022-23 NBA Regular Season.
“I am only 19 years old. Proper physical and mental preparation for at least 82 games next season is extremely important for my development,” he explained, “I hope to become an important part of the Spurs and the Poland national team for years to come.”
The youngster coming out of Baylor was among the initial callups listed by head coach Igor Milicic in late July. Moving on without Sochan, Poland will compete in Group D of EuroBasket against the Czech Republic, Finland, Israel, the Netherlands, and Serbia, looking for one of the four spots in the group leading to the next round and Berlin.
“Of course, I am disappointed that I will not be able to join the team now, put on the Eagles jersey and help in the battles against the best players and teams from Europe, especially since I am very hungry for basketball and competition,” added Sochan, “So, I will be a fan, cheering on and watching games. Let’s go Poland!”.
Poland’s remaining selections:
Aleksander Balcerowski (Gran Canaria)
Aaron Cel (Twarde Pierniki Torun)
Jakub Coulibaly (Trefl Sopot)
Aleksander Dziewa (Slask Wroclaw)
Jakub Garbacz (Arged BM Slam Stal Ostrow Wielkopolski)
Lukasz Kolenda (Slask Wroclaw)
Michal Kolenda (Trefl Sopot)
Michal Michalak (Metropolitans 92)
Dominik Olejniczak (BCM Gravelines-Dunkerque)
Mateusz Ponitka
Jakub Schenk (Tours Metropole Basket)
A.J. Slaughter (Gran Canaria)
Michal Sokolowski (NutriBullet Treviso)
Aleksander Wisniewski (GTK Gliwice)
Jaroslaw Zyskowski (Trefl Sopot)
Photo Credit: FIBA.BASKETBALL