Cheshire Phoenix point guard Devan Bailey has received a late call-up to the Great Britain Senior Men's squad for next month's EuroBasket 2015 second round qualifiers, writes Rob Jeffries.
The 25-year-old from Helsby got the nod as the scheduled training camp got under way on Tuesday of this week, alongside other young British talent. It is believed that only around half of the original 22 who were named on head coach Joe Prunty's preliminary list have attended in Worcester.
Among those not currently in attendance include NBA stars Luol Deng, announced this week as a replacement for LeBron James at Miami Heat. Joel Freeland has confirmed he will not be attending as he runs off the ring rust in the NBA Summer League with the Portland Trail Blazers. Free agent Byron Mullens, who turned out for the Philadelphia 76ers last season, appears not to have joined up with the squad.
BBL veterans Andrew Sullivan and Gareth Murray, alongside regular GB stars Dan Clark, Kieron Achara and Devon Van Oostrum are in attendance.
Bailey's head coach at the Phoenix, John Coffino, said: "Devan's assignment to Team Great Britain is a testament to his hard work and the respect he has earned throughout his young career.
"We are all very proud of him and know he is easily a great ambassador not just for Great Britain but for the Phoenix as well. We wish him much success and I am eager to coach him, David (Aliu) and the rest of the Phoenix squad this upcoming season."
This weekend sees two back-to-back friendly fixtures at University of Worcester Arena against Latvia, who reached the second round proper in EuroBasket 2013.
Bailey's first selection for the GB Senior squad came back in 2010, but would be the first time since he joined Phoenix that he will have represented Great Britain should he play this weekend.
It will then be a wait to see if he will progress past the final roster cut going forward to face Bosnia-Herzegovina and Iceland in the August qualifiers.
Tickets are still available for both games this weekend, Saturday, July 19 and Sunday, July 20, taking place at the University of Worcester Arena and both tip off at 3pm. (Available via telephone - 0844 888 9991 - and online www.ticketline.co.uk).
