BBL and WBBL Legends Julius Joseph and Stef Collins have selected their four-player teams for the FIBA 3×3 Europe Cup Qualifying competition in Romania on 4 and 5 June, following a four-day invitational camp in Manchester.
The GB Men face Spain and Turkey in their pool games with the Women playing Hungary and Denmark on Constanta’s open-air seaside court.
BBL and WBBL talent features in both the Men’s and Women’s sides, with Collins selecting London Lions captain Shanice Beckford-Norton in her quartet of players and Joseph selecting the Manchester Giants’ elite two-way player Jamell Anderson in his four-man roster.
Joseph also brings back a face from last year’s men’s squad with vet Orlan Jackman returning. He is joined by Anderson, Solent Kestrels’ Andre Arissol and Jacksonville State alumnus Kayne Henry.
Collins has selected national team veteran Chantelle Handy, along with Beckford-Norton and Cheridene Green – who all featured in last year’s campaign which saw the Women reach the finals in Paris – and Hannah Jump, fresh from a visit to the NCAA Tournament, who is making her first appearance in GB colours.
GB have again entered the Europe Cup in collaboration with Basketball England as part of a joint mission to improve the national team’s FIBA 3×3 and prepare Team England for the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham this summer.
GB Women’s Head Coach Stef Collins said:
“It’s been a successful few days in camp. We’re really pleased to see how the squad has progressed within such a short space of time as we continue our preparation for our 3×3 debut in the Commonwealth Games.
“We look forward to the challenge of the FIBA Europe Cup Qualifiers as we compete with the best in Europe and carry our preparations onwards to Serbia which will be another fantastic opportunity to learn, adapt and grow as a squad.”
GB Men’s Head Coach Julius Joseph said:
“I’ve been very impressed with the talent that we’ve seen this week. The guys have grasped the 3×3 strategies very well and made a tremendous amount of progress.
“I’m pleased with the foursome we have going to Romania for the Europe Cup Qualifiers and we’re looking forward to the challenge. I’m happy with the group and confident in their ability.
“Looking forward to the Commonwealths with England we’ll have a group of six to announce soon and within that group there’s scope for movement ahead of our finals Games selection.”
Schedule
Women
4 June, 10.10am: GB v Denmark
4 June, 11.30am: GB v Hungary
Men
4 June, 9.50am: GB v Turkey
4 June, 11.10am: GB v Spain
Should the Men’s or Women’s Teams progress to the knockout stages, they will take place on Sunday 5 June, with a schedule to be confirmed. All games will be available to watch live and free on GB Basketball, Basketball England and FIBA 3×3’s Facebook channels.