D’Tigers coach invites 49 players to California for Tokyo Olympics preparations

THE head coach of D’Tigers Mike Brown has called up 49 players to officially commence preparations for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, the Nigeria Basketball Federation media team announced on Tuesday.

The team’s camp in California, the United States of America, opened on Sunday.

D’Tigers will be the only African team in the men’s basketball event at the Olympics which begin on 23 July.

NBA stars like Monte Morris (Denver Nuggets), Miye Oni (Utah Jazz), OG Anunoby (Toronto Raptors), Kz Okpala (Miami Heat), Precious Achiuwa (Miami Heat), Udoka Azubuike (Utah Jazz) and Jahlil Okafor (Detroit Pistons) are all included in the team and are in line to make their international debuts for Nigeria.

Other players in the world’s top basketball league who have been invited include Josh Okogie (Minnesota Timberwolves) Gabe Vincent of Miami Heat, Al-Farouq Aminu of Chicago Bulls, Jordan Nwora (Milwaukee Bucks) and Chimezie Metu (Sacramento Kings), all of who will be making their return to the team after being involved at the 2019 FIBA World Cup where Nigeria qualified for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.

Veteran Ike Diogu, who now plays in the Dominican Republic with Bameso, is also in the squad.

The Europe-based players in the squad include Obi Emegano (Fuenlabrada, Spain), Ike Iroegbu (Elan Chalon, France), Michael Oguine (BC Souffelweyersheim, France), Zaid Hearst (Alba Fehervar, Hungary), Ike Nwamu (Samara, Russia) and Michael Gbinije (BC Nevèżíe, Lithuania).

Other players based in Europe who will be jostling to make the roster are Talib Zanna (Hapoel Tel-Aviv, Israel), Emmanuel Omogbo (Vellaznimi, Kosovo), Christian Mekowulu (Treviso, Italy), Tonye Jekiri (Baskonia, Spain), Abdul-Malik Abu (Fethiye, Turkey), Chima Moneke (Orleans, France), Amanze Egekeze (Gries/Oberhoffen, France), Calab Agada (Hapoel Be’er Sheva, Israel), TK Edogi (St. Chamond, France), Joshua Ajayi (Hermine Nantes, France), Keith Omoerah (Poitiers, France) and Michael Eric who recently helped CSKA Moscow of Russia to the European Basketball League.

Other players in the preliminary squad who will be fighting for spots to Tokyo include Festus Ezeli, UC Iroegbu, Ike Ndugba (2021 NBA draft prospect), Mike Okauru (UNC- Wilmington), Ben Uzoh (Rivers Hoopers), Michael Adewunmi (UT-Rio Grand Valley), Aminu Mohammed (Georgetown University), Manny Obaseki (Texas A&M University), Elijah Olaniyi (Stony Brook University) and Chibuzo Agbo (Texas Tech University).

Gideon George (Brigham Young University), Makenzie Mgbako (Gill St. Bernard School), Warith Alatishe (Oregon State University), Efe Abogidi (Washington State University), Stephen Domingo (Lakeland Magic), Emeka Okafor, Clifford Omoruyi (Rutger University) and Ekpe Udoh (Beijing RF, China) complete the 49-man list.
Players started arriving at the camp Sunday for the first phase of camping exercise.

The final roster for the Olympics will be made of 12 players.

D’Tigers are in Group B with Australia and winners of the Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Serbia and Croatia, which will be held between 29 June and 4 July.