Initial Seventeen Man GB Under-16 Squad Revealed

By Sam Neter on July 24, 2018

British Basketball has revealed the seventeen names attending a pre-tournament training camp ahead of the FIBA Under-16 European Championship (Division B) in Sarajevo next month.

With Head Coach James Vear returning, the seventeen include an array of talent from across the country, including two holdovers from last year, former Ipswich shooting guard and Hoopsfix All-Star Classic alumnus Veron Eze now based in Italy and Kent’s Oluwasegun Shodunke.

Trieste-based Daijuan Antonio has already received attention before his move to Italy, City of Edinburgh’s player of the year Owen Mackle is also included, while there are also places for Richmond Knights duo James Cook and Flynn Boardman-Raffet.

In addition, 6’11 Barcelona-bound centre Matthew Marsh has been named, as has London Lewisham Thunder duo Malachi Boayke-Yiadom and Josh Uduje.

There’s more London representation with London Greenhouse Pioneers’ Cameron Nyarko and Newham Youngbloods’ Alex Distras, while Manchester features with 6’6 Magic forward Saul May and Giants’ Victor Ndoukou.

Also in camp are Sussex Storm guard Cameron Hildreth – son of former Brighton Bears playmaker Daniel – Northamptonshire Titans’ Sam Grant who joins Reading Rockets for next season and Myerscough’s Amari Williams, who also suited up at the Hoopsfix All-Star Classic.

Vear is supported by Assistants Craig Nicol and Ieuan Alex-Jones, with team manager Howard Leighton and physio Aynkaran Vigneswarn. Support within camp will come from Development Coach Matt Guymon and Support Physio Charlotte Page.

They play their opening game against Ireland on August 9th, with four more group games to come in the tournament.

“We are excited to get started with our preparation for the European championships,” Vear commented. “There are some talented players at this age group and we will try and do the best we can in the short preparation we have before we fly out to Bosnia.”

GB Under-16 Initial Squad

*Listed with 2017-18 teams
Daijuan Antonio, Trieste (ITA)
Malachi Boayke-Yiadom, London Lewisham Thunder
Flynn Boardman-Raffet, Richmond Knights
James Cook, Richmond Knights
Alex Distras, Newham Youngbloods
Veron Eze, Stella Azzura Roma (ITA)
Victor Faroukou, Manchester Giants
Kanukayi Gudza, Luton Basketball
Sam Grant, Northamptonshire Titans
Cameron Hildreth, Sussex Storm
Owen Mackle, City of Edinburgh Basketball Club
Matthew Marsh, Reading Rockets
Saul May, Manchester Magic
Cameron Nyarko, London Greenhouse Pioneers
Oluwasegun Shodunke, Canterbury Academy
Josh Uduje, London Lewisham Thunder
Amari Williams, Mansfield Giants

Head Coach: James Vear
Assistant Coach: Craig Nicol
Assistant Coach: Ieuan-Alex Jones
Physiotherapist: Aynkaran Vigneswam
Development Coach: Matthew Guymon
Support Physio: Charlotte Page

GB U16 Group Games

Thursday August 9th, Ireland v Great Britain, 1.15pm
Friday August 10th, Great Britain v Romania, 3.30pm
Saturday August 11th, Luxembourg v Great Britain, 3.30pm
Monday August 13th, Great Britain v Portugal, 8.00pm
Tuesday August 14th, Sweden v Great Britain 3.30pm

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