FRA - Vaty scraps holiday, joins Les Bleus

PAU (Olympics) - Injuries, late arrivals and no-shows for France have caused a few headaches for national team coach Vincent Collet as he works out with his players in training ahead of the Olympics.

But instead of fretting about the problems, the veteran tactician is reinforcing the squad with promising youngsters eager to make their mark with the senior team,

The latest player Collet has reached out to is Ludovic Vaty, who is coming off a solid season at Gravelines Dunkerque.

A 2.05m center, Vaty has played for France's youth teams but at 23 years of age has yet to crack the senior squad.

He played an average of 18.50 minutes per contest this season in the 2011-12 Eurocup, pouring in 8.8 points and corralling 5.3 rebounds per game.

In France's top flight, the Pro A, Vaty helped Gravelines finish first during the regular season.

Despite being on holiday, Vaty jumped at the chance to join up with the French squad even if his chances of traveling to London to play at the Olympics this summer are slim.

"Ludovic had a good season with his club Gravelines Dunkerque and in view of the difficulties in the squad since the beginning of preparation, it was legitimate to ask him (to join)," Collet said.

"Despite being on holiday abroad, Ludovic has made himself available soon.

"He will be with us on Friday."

France had already welcomed Cholet youngster Rudy Gobert into the squad.

Gobert will later rejoin the French side that is competing at the U20 European Championship in Slovenia.

Big man Ronny Turiaf has yet to arrive in France to join his teammates because he is currently engaged in the NBA Finals with the Miami Heat, who have a 3-1 lead over the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Joakim Noah’s presence this summer is uncertain with the Chicago Bulls center recovering from an ankle injury he suffered in the first round of the post-season.

The Dallas Mavericks center Ian Mahinmi played for France at the 2010 FIBA World Championship and was named in the 18-man preliminary squad for the Olympics but has not joined his teammates.

Tony Parker is recovering from an eye injury but will soon link up with the national team and Rodrigue Beaubois, also a member of the Dallas Mavericks, has declined the invitation by France this summer.

The London Games start for France on 29 July.

Les Bleus will compete in Group A with the United States, Argentina, Tunisia and two sides that come out of the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament (OQT) in Caracas, Venezuela.

FIBA