Croatia cuts down the roster for OQT to 16 players

Dario Saric, Mario Hezonja and Bojan Bogdanovic, three of Croatia's most famous players, are sure bets to be at July's FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament (OQT) in Turin.

In whittling down his preliminary squad to just 16 players, Croatia coach Aleksandar Petrovic included each. That was no surprise.

What the veteran play-caller has done, however, is keep power forward Justin Hamilton as the lone naturalised player. Many had expected the coach to use the naturalised spot on a guard, either Oliver Lafayette or Dontaye Draper, but the coach instead looks set to use the spot on a big man.

A former Cibona Zagreb star who is now on the books of Valencia Basket, the 2.13m Hamilton was recently named to the Spanish ACB's Ideal Quintet.

At the OQT, Croatia are to face Tunisia and Italy in Group B. Greece, Iran and Mexico will play in Group A. Only the side that wins the OQT will clinch a spot in the Olympics.

Croatia's 16-man preliminary squad for 2016 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Turin, Italy (4-9 July): Marko Arapovic, Luka Babic, Miro Bilan, Bojan Bogdanovic, Ante Delas, Justin Hamilton, Mario Hezonja, Filip Kruslin, Fran Pilepic, Roko Leni Ukic, Rok Stipcevic, Krunoslav Simon, Zeljko Sakic, Dario Saric, Leon Radosevic and Ante Zizic.