By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Turkey senior national team selector Ergin Ataman narrowed it down to 24 players.
The Turkish Basketball Federation, TBF, revealed the list of players called up to play in the 2022 EuroBasket and the closely preceding 2023 FIBA World Cup Qualifiers. The list includes a couple of naturalized Turkish stars Shane Larkin and Scottie Wilbekin. In addition, four active NBA players were called up, Furkan Korkmaz, Cedi Osman, Alperen Sengun, and Omer Yurtseven.
Turkey senior national team initial squad:
Egehan Arna (Anadolu Efes)
Yigit Arslan (Bahcesehir Koleji)
Metecan Birsen (Fenerbahce Beko)
Onuralp Bitim (Frutti Extra Bursaspor)
Egemen Guven (Anadolu Efes)
Furkan Haltali (Besiktas Icrypex)
Sehmus Hazer (Fenerbahce Beko)
Sadik Emir Kabaca (Galatasaray Nef)
Goksenin Koksal (Galatasaray Nef)
Furkan Korkmaz (Philadelphia 76ers)
Shane Larkin (Anadolu Efes)
Melih Mahmutoglu (Fenerbahce Beko)
Cedi Osman (Cleveland Cavaliers)
Dogus Ozdemiroglu (Darussafaka)
Kartal Ozmizrak (Bahcesehir Koleji)
Sertac Sanli (FC Barcelona)
Yigitcan Saybir (Frutti Extra Bursaspor)
Alperen Sengun (Houston Rockets)
Bugrahan Tuncer (Anadolu Efes)
Berk Ugurlu (Tofas)
Scottie Wilbekin (Fenerbahce Beko)
Muhsin Yasar (Gaziantep)
Samet Yigitoglu (Besiktas Icrypex)
Omer Yurtseven (Miami Heat)
Of course, the main focus is on the EuroBasket. Turkey will be part of the preliminary round action in Tbilisi, Georgia. Group A opponents are Montenegro, Bulgaria, Georgia, Belgium, and Spain between 1-7 September. Ranking among the top four teams of the group would punch in a ticket to the next round and Berlin, Germany. The knockout stage of the tournament is scheduled to take place from 10 to 18 September.
Tipping off the last round of the World Cup Qualifiers, the away game opposite Latvia and the home game opposite Serbia will be held on 25 and 28 August, respectively. The top three teams of Group I will clinch a berth in the final stage of the World Cup to be held next summer in Asia.
Photo Credit: FIBA.BASKETBALL