Tillie replaces injured Mahinmi in France squad

GRANADA (FIBA Basketball World Cup) - Kim Tillie impressed during France's preparations for the FIBA Basketball World Cup but was among the last cuts from the squad.

He's now back, however, and set to play in the World Cup as a replacement for Indiana Pacers center Ian Mahinmi.

The 2.11m Mahinmi injured his left shoulder in training on Thursday morning and had to pull out of the team that was getting ready for Saturday's Group A opener against Brazil in Granada.

Tillie was already in Spain when he received the call from France that he was back in the team.

He is on the books of Laboral Kutxa in Vitoria and was training with their squad.

A 2.11m center who played college basketball in the United States for Utah before launching his professional career with Asvel Lyon-Villeurbanne in the 2010-11 season, Tillie featured with France's youth sides but the World Cup will be his first tournament with the senior team.

He did appear in four of France's warm-up games for the World Cup.

In his second campaign with Spanish club Murcia last season, Tillie averaged 12 points and 5.1 rebounds per contest.

France, who won the EuroBasket title last summer in Slovenia, are No. 8 in the FIBA Ranking Men.

They will also take on Egypt, Iran, Serbia, and tournament hosts Spain in Granada.

FIBA