SEN - Plenty of veterans for Sarr

DAKAR (Afrobasket/FIBA Basketball World Cup) - Gorgui Deng is the NBA spotlight, fresh off an NCAA-title winning campaign with the Louisville Cardinals.

But just months away from launching his rookie season wity the Minnesota Timberwolves, Deng is concentrating on his professional career and won’t be with Senegal's squad for the Afrobasket.

Coach Cheikh Sarr nevertheless has plenty of firepower to throw at opponents in Cote d'Ivoire, where Senegal will take on the tournament hosts, Egypt and Algeria.

The squad has six domestic-based players and 17 others who compete abroad in Spain, the United States, France, Switzerland and Tunisia.

Four of the team's five top scorers from the side that finished fifth at Afrobasket 2011 in Madagascar are included.

They are Mouhammad Faye, Mamadou Ndoye, Malick Badiane and Maleye Ndoye.

Small forward Maleye Ndoye played for the Coupe de France-winning Paris Levallois side this year.

Faye, who left the French league after the 2011-12 season for Greece, averaged 9.9 points, 7.5 rebounds and 1.4 blocks for Ikaros.

There has never been a shortage of talent when it comes to Senegalese basketball, with Deng the perfect example.

In a recent interview, Sarr was asked about the biggest hurdle that the national side has had to clear over the years in its attempt to reach the top in Africa.

"We've started our preparations very late and rarely played in a lot of tournaments," he said.

"Then there is the financial issue that motivates the players.

"Finally, there is the failure to contact the players early.

"If you contact them later, they say that the organization is not professional.

"The problems thus concern the contact with the players ...

"We have weaknesses in the organization. It has a negative impact on the whole. If we can make a good preparation, you can have a good surprise."

Senegal's best finish at an Afrobasket was in 2005, when they claimed a silver medal and qualified for the FIBA World Championship in Japan.

To reach next year’s FIBA Basketball World Cup in Spain, the team will need a top-three finish.

Senegal squad: Mamadou Ndoye, Xan Dalmeida, Ibrahima Mbengue, Adama Louis Adam, Pape Malick Gadiaga, Papa Sadiaw Diatta,El Hadj Ndiaye, Modou Mbaye, Mohamed Diop, Maleye Ndoye, Mohammed Faye, Djibril Thiam, Pape Mor Faye, Abdou Ba, Mohamed Diop, Boubacar Coly, Pape Abdou Badji, Malick Badiane, Souleymane Camara, Saer Sene, Abdoulaye Ndoye, Hamady Ndiaye and Ibrahima Thomas.

FIBA