Ilyasova, Yurtseven in Turkey squad for start of Second Round of Qualifiers
ISTANBUL (FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 European Qualifiers) - Turkey have strengthened their squad for September games with the additions of veteran Ersan Ilyasova and promising center Omer Yurtseven.
ISTANBUL (FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 European Qualifiers) - Turkey have strengthened their squad for the start of the Second Round of the European Qualifiers with the additions of veteran Ersan Ilyasova and promising young center Omer Faruk Yurtseven,
Veteran forward Ilyasova, a long-time NBA player, made his bow for the Turkey senior team at the FIBA Basketball World Cup in Japan 12 years ago and has played in a lot of big games for his country but none since FIBA EuroBasket 2015 in France.
Giant center Yurtseven, 20, spent the past two seasons at North Carolina State in the NCAA but has decided to transfer to Georgetown University. He suited up for Turkey's youth sides and last featured at the 2017 U20 European Championship in Greece when he averaged 17 points and 11.4 rebounds.
| Turkey 19-player squad for FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 European Qualifiers | |||
| Dogus Balbay | James Metecan Birsen | Sertac Sanli | A. Bugrahan Tuncer |
| Ridvan Oncel | Kartal Ozmizkrak | Melih Mahmutoglu | Huseyin Goksenin Koksal |
| Ege Arar | Ayberk Olmaz | Berk Ibrahim Ugurlu | Metin Turen |
| Berkan Durmaz | Cedi Osman | Omer Faruk Yurtseven | Scott Jordan Wilbekin |
| Ersan Ilyasova | Furkan Korkmaz | Semih Erden | |
Even more crucial for Turkey are the names of Cedi Osman, Furkan Korkmaz and Scott Wilbekin, standouts in the third window.
The three made their first appearances in the Qualifiers and were outstanding.
Turkey begin their Second Round campaign with a 4-2 record. They will go up against Spain, Montenegro and Slovenia in Group I. Their fourth window opponents will be Montenegro on September 14 in Ankara and then Slovenia on September 17 in Ljubljana.
FIBA