FIBA Basketball

    GER - Hawaii native joins german camp

    HONOLULU (FIBA World Championship) - The German national team has strengthened its front court by granting citizenship to Hawaii native Julian Sensley, a physical power forward from the University of Hawaii<br />

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    HONOLULU (FIBA World Championship) - The German national team has strengthened its front court by granting citizenship to Hawaii native Julian Sensley, a physical power forward from the University of Hawaii.

    The 24-year-old has already joined national team coach Dirk Bauermann's training camp in Mallorca and has a decent chance of making the squad for the 2006 FIBA World Championship.

    Sensley became eligible for German citizenship through his German mother, Susanne Karsten, who retained dual citizenship when she moved to the United States.

    "They were jumping through hoops for me to get it and now I'm a German citizen, which is kind of cool, so I'll be able to play with them," Sensley told the Honolulu Star Bulletin.

    Sensley was born in New Orleans but lists Kailua as his hometown and the 2.07m tall forward averaged 17.6 points and 5.8 rebounds for the Hawaii Warriors.

    He is only the second player in Hawaii men's hoops history to be among the all-time top 10 in scoring, rebounding and assists. He is also one of only four players in the university's history with more than 1,000 points and 500 rebounds in a career.

    The German national team discovered Sensley through a tip-off to coach Bauermann from the United States. The coach sent his assistant Chris Welps to watch a game in Reno, Nevada, and the paperwork began.

    "Germany is a part of me, even if I live in the United States," Sensley told the German Basketball Federation`s website. "I am looking forward to the challenge."

    One of his first challenges could come on July 22, when Germany face African champions Angola in a newly-scheduled match at the San Moix hall in Palma.

    Angola are Germany's final opponents in Group B of the 2006 FIBA World Championship in Japan. Germany open their campaign against hosts Japan before facing New Zealand, Spain and Panama.

    David Hein
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