Opportunities Abound at GB Senior Men’s Training Camp

Every year, it seems, the first talking point of the Great Britain team is who didn’t make it to camp, and despite constant struggles with putting the potential squad’s “best” 12 on the floor, GB captain Drew Sullivan thinks the absences have actually made the programme stronger.

“When you think about it, if we had the team that we could have had last year, would we have seen the best out of Myles (Hesson)? Would we have seen the best out Andrew Lawrence, or Kyle Johnson, or Devon van Oostrum?,” he said talking from training camp in Worcester on Thursday afternoon.

“These guys put on such a great performance last year, now they’ve got to back it up with the second year. The guys who aren’t here for various reasons, they’ve actually unintentionally made our national team stronger. I’m sure that’s not why they decided they weren’t coming in, but if and when they do come back, we’ve got someone like Myles who’s got experience, someone like Devon who’s got experience, now our team has become deeper.”

Despite 10 of the 12 players in last year’s Eurobasket squad being in attendance at camp (Ogo Adegboye expected to join camp later, according to British Basketball) as the team prepares for their Eurobasket 2015 Qualifiers, Head Coach Joe Prunty says no-one’s spot is guaranteed.

“That’s always been the case, I even said that last year going into camp,” Prunty said. “There’s a lot of players and you can only end up with so many, so each year you have to establish what is the best team we can put together to represent GB.”

A number of players are making the most of opportunities that have arisen this year that arguably wouldn’t have been possible if the original listed squad had all showed up; Joel Freeland, Byron Mullens, Luol Deng (still in ongoing discussions) Ovie Soko, James Jones, Luke Nelson and Justin Robinson are all now unavailable.

Devan Bailey, Orlan Jackman, and Conner Washington were the three late additions to the squad, while Ben Mockford got his first senior squad call up when he was named in the original 22 player list.

Mockford, a lefty shooter who has just graduated from St Francis NY, is relishing the experience.

“I feel good,” the 6’2″ guard said, with the hope a few GB caps will boost his standing in Europe as he searches for his first pro contract (he’s talking to teams in Spain and Greece but remains unsigned for now).

“I feel like I’ve come on already, getting a lot more comfortable with the guys and just enjoying it really and trying to learn as much as I can every day and just try and bring my game.

“It’s a good learning experience so far, learning off the older guys especially, because it’s a lot different to college basketball. I’m just learning and progressing each day.”

Meanwhile, he has left an impression on at least one player at the camp.

“Ben Mockford, I’ve been pretty impressed with him,” said Sullivan. “He’s been really good shooting the ball, he seems to be taking things in really quickly and understanding what’s being asked of him.”

Guede, a 6’5″ guard who played in Slovakia this season, returns to the squad after being called up last year to camp following a 4 year hiatus from the team.

“I’ve always been a big fan of Paul Guede,” said Dan Clark. “I’ve thought he’s always had a spot on the national team so it’s great to see someone like him here. He’s a hard worker and knows the game; with the size he’s got; he’s a very big guard, his ability to run both spots really helps us.”

“He’s been playing more the point here, and I wasn’t aware he had that skill set,” added Sullivan of Guede. “So, to see him come in and run the team in practice under pressure and do a fairly good job, that’s been nice.”

Devan Bailey, who also returns to the squad after last being involved in 2011, was another addition said to be looking good.

“He’s been out of the programme for quite some time, and to come back and to perform like he has, he’s got a good shot of making the team,” concluded Sullivan.

It remains to be seen who ends up in the final 12, but one thing is for sure; every player at camp will gain a lot from the experience which will only help their own development, and potentially the programme’s, in the future.