Casspi to lead Israel at EuroBasket 2015

TEL AVIV (EuroBasket 2015) - Omri Casspi is poised to resume his role as leader of the Israeli national team this summer, following the announcement of the EuroBasket 2015 preliminary squad.

Israel head coach Erez Edelstein opted to announce a 19-strong list of players, notably shorter than those of other national teams at this stage.

Casspi, who was largely responsible for Israel securing a berth at EuroBasket 2015 with his amazing performances in the 2nd Qualification Round, headlines the list.

After posting 19 points, 7.2 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game with the national team last summer, the explosive 26-year-old small forward returned to the team with which he had started his NBA career six years ago, the Sacramento Kings.

Casspi proved once again that the California climate agrees with him as he improved significantly on his displays with the Houston Rockets the previous season and he averaged 8.9 points on 49% shooting from the floor, 3.9 rebounds and 1.5 assists.

The other Israeli player to have played in the NBA, Gal Mekel, is also included on the list of coach Edelstein.

The 27-year-old point guard started off the campaign at New Orleans Pelicans but did not secure a long-term contract.

Mekel then signed with Russian club Nizhny Novgorod midway through the season, averaging 8.5 points and 3.2 assists in his 17 games in the VTB United League.

Israel captain Guy Pnini is also on the preliminary list despite the fact he is still to return to action after sustaining an Achilles tendon injury in November.

When considering the Maccabi Tel Aviv swingman's dedication to the national team however, this hardly comes as a surprise.

Pnini debuted with the senior Israel side in 2007 and has never missed out on a single summer campaign since then, appearing among others in four consecutive EuroBasket tournaments, from 2007 to 2013.

The hard-nosed player averaged 10.2 points and 4.2 assists per game in the 2nd Qualifying Round last summer.

If there is something surprising about coach Edelstein's preliminary squad it's probably the inclusion of experienced veteran Yaniv Green, in spite of the fact that the big man has turned 35 this year.

The other big news in the frontcourt is the exclusion of Maccabi Tel Aviv center Alexander Tyus, with coach Edelstein opting instead for Israel's other naturalised big man, Unics Kazan veteran Dor Fischer.

Israel were drawn in Group A at EuroBasket 2015 and will therefore battle it out with Finland, Russia, Poland, Bosnia and Herzegovina and hosts France for a top-four finish which leads to the Round of 16.

Israel's preliminary squad for EuroBasket 2015: Oz Blayzer, Omri Casspi, Shawn Dawson, Alex Chubrevich, Lior Eliyahu, Dor Fischer, Yaniv Green, Yotam Halperin, Nitzan Hanochi, Elishay Kadir, Raviv Limonad, Gal Mekel, Yuval Naimy, Afik Nissim, Yogev Ohayon, Guy Pnini, Robert Rohtbart, Bar Timor, Dagan Yivzori.

Go to http://www.eurobasket2015.org/en/default.asp for full coverage of EuroBasket 2015.

FIBA