FIRST TWO EXIT GB OLYMPIC SQUAD

By Mark Woods on April 16, 2012

Bonnie Samuelson and Sarah Naylor have become the first two cuts from Great Britain’s Olympic women’s basketball squad ahead of training camp.

Samuelson was a reserve on Stanford Universityâ€™s NCAA Final squad this year and is likely to drop into the Under-20 team.

While Naylor of Sheffield Hatters was always a probable omission as the numbers are dropped to 18 invitees who will report to Surrey on May 5.

â€œThe 18 players invited to attend Surrey Sports Park in May are a fantastic mix with some of the more experienced players leading the way with the younger talent coming through too,â€ said GB coach Tom Maher.

â€œEveryone is coming to camp with great anticipation and ready to work hard to achieve our goals this year which is fantastic to see. After a historic year in 2011 we hope to build on our successes and make 2012 another year to remember.â€

Sarah McKay has come through a week of intensive fitness tests to earn her inclusion in a squad that will be trimmed to 16 at the end of camp.

The Barking Abbey centre, made her GB debut in 2008, was forced to sit out the 2010 and 2011 international campaigns following knee surgeries.

â€œI am beyond excited about being included for GBâ€™s preparation camp this year,â€ she said. It is one step closer to the ultimate goal of the Olympics and this is what a lot of us have been working towards for over four years.

â€œI am now focused on making the final roster. We are lucky enough to have the opportunity to get together soon which gives us time to prepare for the biggest summer ever.â€

GB Squad: Dominique Allen (Oral Roberts University, USA), Rose Anderson (UWIC Archers, Cardiff), Kim Butler (SK Cesis, Latvia), Kate Butters (UWIC Archers, Cardiff), Kristina Collins (Simon Fraser University, Canada), Stef Collins (UWIC Archers, Cardiff), Temi Fagbenle (Harvard University, USA), Steph Gandy (Sheffield Hatters), Chantelle Handy (Athinaikos, Greece), Georgia Jones (Oral Roberts University, USA), Jo Â Leedham (Bulleen Boomers, Australia), Sarah McKay (Barking Abbey Leopards), Julie Page (Torun, Poland), Natalie Stafford (Sydney University Flames, Australia), Azania Stewart (University of Florida, USA), Lauren Thomas-Johnson (Sheffield Hatters), Rachel Vanderwal (University of Limerick, Ireland), Jeneya Wade-Fray (UWIC Archers, Cardiff)

Main pic: Dan Wooller

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