Osman, Korkmaz and Ilyasova in Turkey's preliminary World Cup squad
ISTANBUL (Turkey) - Cedi Osman, Furkan Korkmaz and Ersan Ilyasova have all been named on Turkey's expanded list of 26 players for this summer's FIBA Basketball World Cup.
ISTANBUL (Turkey) - Cedi Osman, Furkan Korkmaz and Ersan Ilyasova have all been named on Turkey's expanded list of 26 players for this summer's FIBA Basketball World Cup.
All three players featured in the European Qualifiers and helped the country earn a spot in the tournament, which for the first time will have 32 teams and be played in China.
| Turkey's 26-player preliminary squad for FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 | |||
| Mert Akay | Ege Arar | Yigit Arslan | Ragip Berke Atar |
| Dogus Balbay | James Metecan Birsen | Berkan Durmaz | Semih Erden |
| Tolga Gecim | Sehmus Hazer | Ersan Ilyasova | Huseyin Goksenin Koksal |
| Furkan Korkmaz | Melih Mahmutoglu | Ali Muhammed | Ayberk Olmaz |
| Ridvan Oncel | Cedi Osman | Kartal Ozmizrak | Sertac Sanli |
| Yigitcan Saybir | A.Bugrahan Tuncer | Metin Turen | Berk Ibrahim Ugurlu |
| Scott Jordan Wilbekin | Muhsin Yaşar | ||
Among the many others included that impressed at FIBA EuroBasket 2017 or during the European Qualifiers are Dogus Balbay, James Metecan Birsen, Berkan Durmaz, Semih Erden, Huseyin Koksal, Melih Mahmutoglu, Sertac Sanli and Scott Wilbekin.
Turkey will begin the First Round in the Shanghai-based Group E against the United States, Czech Republic and Japan. A top-two finish would put them in Second Round Group K alongside the top two teams from a Group F that is made up of Greece, New Zealand, Brazil and Montenegro.
The countries that finish first and second in Group K will advance to the Quarter-Finals.
While Ilyasova appeared at the World Cups in 2006 and 2010, Osman played in 2014. He and Korkmaz have become pivotal players in the team.
Korkmaz began to take his game to new heights when he played for Banvit in the Basketball Champions League during the 2016-2017 season.
Other young players like Ragip Berke Atar, Ridvan Oncel, Sehmus Hazer and Tolga Gecim have gained experience and caught the eye while playing in the competition. All have been included on the expanded list ahead of the World Cup.
FIBA