The U17 Men’s National Basketball Team’s second camp tips-off today at the AIS, as the side looks towards September, when they will face New Zealand in the FIBA Oceania championship, to qualify for the 2012 World Championship in Lithuania.

Although this is the second camp of four, it is the first time that the selected squad will train together as a team, with the first camp serving the purpose of development and identification.  

Many of the players took part as bottom-age players in the U18 Australian Junior Championship in Ulverstone recently, and the strength of these players at that particular tournament highlighted the quality of this age-group.

Head coach of the U17 team, Guy Molloy said that he was excited by the talent and skill-level of the group, which includes two Country Victorian members, as he looks to put together a line-up strong enough to advance beyond the FIBA Oceania qualifiers against our trans-Tasman rivals, with the ultimate goal of performing well at the 2012 World Championships in Lithuania.

“I was very impressed with the level of talent at every position, particularly at the perimeter spot,” Molloy said recently.

“I’m also very excited by the prospect of giving these kids a big introduction to things that take place in international basketball that they don’t see so much even at National championships.”

New Zealand pose a great challenge for the Aussies, having defeated the side in one of their qualification matches in 2010. An U18 New Zealand national team was also present in Ulverstone, Tasmania for the U18 Championships, giving some of the coaches a look at some of the Aussie’s in the current squad.

U17 Australian National Team Squad Members

Nicholas DUNCAN   NSW Metro 

Mirko DJERIC  NSW Metro / AIS

Fabijan KRSLOVIC  NSW Metro

Gerard MARTIN  NSW Metro

Jonathan MBAKWE  NSW Metro

Siatua SOLAESE  NSW Metro

Sam DALY  SA Metro

Caleb DAVIS WA Metro

Josh DERKSON  QLD South

Oscar LIN  QLD South

Jason RALPH  QLD South

Archie SMITH  QLD South

Cade TOWERS  QLD South / AIS

Darcy MALONE  ACT

Dante EXUM   Victoria Metro / AIS

Jake HORSTMAN Victoria Country

Matt JACKSON  Victoria Metro

Michael LUXFORD  Victoria metro

Jordan MANGAN  Victoria Country

Jack PURCHASE  Victoria Metro

Deng RIAK  Victoria Metro

Felix VAN HOFE  Victoria metro