SWE - Taylor returns to help lead Sweden

KOPER (EuroBasket/FIBA Basketball World Cup) - Jeffery Taylor had not played for Sweden for four summers before finally returning to the blue and gold this summer for EuroBasket 2013. And the reasoning was clear.

"It was just time," said the Charlotte Bobcats forward, who last played internationally at the 2008 U20 European Championship Division B.

"I love representing my country. I love playing for Sweden. It was always a goal to come back and play."

The 24-year-old Taylor in 2008 headed to the United States for his freshman season at Vanderbilt University. He was a three-time All-SEC Conference 2nd Team selection and eventually grew closer to becoming an NBA level talent.

Last summer he turned down a Sweden invite for the EuroBasket 2013 qualifiers to instead work on making the Bobcats after being selected as the first pick of the second round of the 2012 NBA Draft.

"Before I was in college and then I was preparing for the NBA draft. I just needed to be over there and handle that and my personal stuff and my individual development. Once I knew that I had a contract I felt safe about playing (for Sweden)," Taylor explained.

Now he is being called upon to help lead a Sweden team that features another NBA player in Jonas Jerebko as well as six players aged 25 years or younger.

There is also more talent waiting in the wings to move in the senior national team, including Marcus Eriksson and Nicholas Spires - neither of whom made the squad for EuroBasket.

"We're getting a lot better. I think we are trying to be more competitive in Europe. Our future is bright," said Taylor.

One of Sweden's brightest young stars did make the cut in point guard Ludvig Hakanson. The 17-year-old, who played earlier this summer at the U18 European Championship Division B, will serve as the main back-up point guard behind Thomas Massamba.

"He's a good player, he plays very mature for his age. He's not scared about playing against the older guys out here," said Taylor of Hakanson.

Hakanson has already spent the last two seasons in Barcelona's youth ranks, practising with one of the top clubs in Europe. He also appeared at the 2013 Euroleague Final Four at the Nike International Junior Tournament.

"He's still a kid, but he's got a huge upside. He'll be really good in a couple years," Taylor went on.

Sweden will need Taylor and Hakanson to both play well in a group with Greece, Finland, Russia, Turkey and Italy.

"It's clearly a tough group, probably the toughest in the whole tournament," Taylor offered.

"We have our work cut out for ourselves. But I think if we play organised on offense and defense and we sustain good play I think we can beat those teams."

For full and in-depth coverage of EuroBasket 2013, go to the official website http://www.eurobasket2013.org.

FIBA