By Eurohoops team / info@eurohoops.net
With an official press release on the Polish Basketball Federation’s website, it was announced that the 20-year-old guard from the San Antonio Spurs Jeremy Sochan has fully agreed to join the national team this summer in the upcoming 2024 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament.
The Director of the Polish National Team Łukasz Koszarek and Denver Nuggets scout Rafał Juć went on the road to San Antonio and Golden State to speak with Jeremy Sochan and Brandin Podziemski, who also showed interest in representing Poland.
“Although no final declaration has been made, because it is not that time yet, we believe that we are very close to reaching an agreement. Jeremy [Sochan] wants to play for the Polish national team, and he really wants to fight for the Olympic Games. However, not everything depends on him and he has full understanding from our side”, Łukasz Koszarek commented.
Talking about Podziemski, things aren’t as easy. “When it comes to Brandin, the matter is of course much more complicated. Jeremy is Polish, he has already made his debut, while in the case of Brandin, of course, we are talking about the naturalization process. His family comes from the Poznań area, and his grandfather is Polish, which makes it much easier to complete the formalities”, he added.
Winning at home in Gliwice in last year’s Pre-Olympic Tournament, Igor Milicic’s team found the ticket to dream about an Olympic spot in Paris 2024. To do so, they will need to beat Finland and Bahamas first, and then two between Spain, Angola, and Lebanon in Valencia from July 2-7.
Back when he wasn’t playing yet with the Baylor Bears and then with the San Antonio Spurs, Jeremy Sochan played with the Polish national team in the 2022 FIBA EuroBasket Qualifiers against Romania, providing 18 points in the 88-81 win. At the time, he was in Germany with the Orange Academy.
In the 2023-24 NBA Regular Season, the 20-year-old talent has been averaging 11.7 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 3.4 assists per game with the San Antonio Spurs. Brandin Podziemski, instead, is putting up 9.7 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 4.0 assists in his rookie season with the Golden State Warriors
PHOTO CREDIT: 2022 FIBA EuroBasket Qualifiers