European-based Germans get early call

BERLIN (EuroBasket 2015) - Germany head coach Chris Fleming on Thursday announced a list of 21 players who will undergo preliminary medical tests in late June, approximately a month before the start of the EuroBasket 2015 training camp.

Of these players, 20 competed in European-based clubs this season while the only exception is youngster Maodo Lo, whose NCAA campaign finished in March.

They will all gather in Berlin on 25-26 June to be submitted to the tests, according to a schedule released by the German Basketball Federation (DBB).

Germany's preliminary squad for EuroBasket 2015 is expected to consist of these 21 players, possibly with some minor amendments according to individual fitness and health circumstances, with the addition of three more players.

Coach Fleming has called upon the 21 following players: Danilo Barthel, Robin Benzing, Bastian Doreth, Niels Giffey, Per Gunther, Elias Harris, Alex King, Maximilian Kleber, Konstantin Klein, Maodo Lo, Tim Ohlbrecht, Tibor Pleiss, Heiko Schaffartzik, Lucca Staiger, Maurice Stuckey, Karsten Tadda, Daniel Theis, Akeem Vargas, Johannes Voigtmann, Maik Zirbes and Paul Zipser.

Regardless of whom their exact final 12-man squad will include, Germany appear bound to continue the rejuvenating trend of recent years as most players on this list are in their early twenties.

The list does not include superstar Dirk Nowitzki and fellow NBA players Dennis Schroder and Chris Kaman, albeit this is not necessarily indicative of their availability for the EuroBasket.

Nowitzki, who had taken a break from international duty following EuroBasket 2011, is considering a triumphant return to the Germany team at the age of 37, tempted by the fact his nation are playing host to EuroBasket 2015 Group B in Berlin.

The German legend has stated that he will discuss the issue with his family and the Dallas Mavericks and announce his final decision by early June.

Schroder on the other hand is right now immersed into one of the most fascinating stages of his still young career as he is taking part in the NBA Eastern Conference finals.

The German point guard of the Atlanta Hawks had six points and four assists in Game 1 of the series against Cleveland on Wednesday night, but his team succumbed to a 97-89 loss at home.

Meanwhile Kaman, who just like Nowitzki saw his NBA season come to an end in the first round of the play-offs when his Portland Trailblazers lost to Memphis Grizzlies, has also not played since EuroBasket 2011.

In EuroBasket 2015 Group B, Germany will do battle with Serbia, Spain, Turkey, Iceland and Italy for a top-four finish, which leads to the Round of 16.

Go to eurobasket2015.org for full coverage of EuroBasket 2015.

FIBA