Israel Coach Sherf Announces Preliminary Squad

Israel coach Zvika Sherf has announced a 24-strong group of players that have a chance to play for the country at this summer's EuroBasket in Poland and several men who have a rich history with the national team are missing from the list.

Maccabi Tel Aviv guard Dror Hagag and Hapoel Jerusalem's big guys - Sharon Shason and Erez Markovic - have not received calls from Sherf.

Afik Nissim, who is having a great season in the second division in Italy with Veroli and helped the club win the league's cup title, is also not included.

There are plenty of familiar names on the list and some new ones as well.

Yotam Halperin is enjoying a solid first season at Greek powerhouse Olympiacos under coach Panagiotis Yannakis and has been named.

Lior Eliyahu, Omri Casspi, Yaniv Green and Raviv Limonad are included from Maccabi, as well as Tal Burstein who will try to make the team and recover this summer from what was probably the least successful season of his individual career.

Guy Pnini, one of Israel's best performers at EuroBasket 2007 in Spain, is in the 24-man group along with national team veterans as Meir Tapiro, Amit Tamir, Matan Naor, Ido Kozikaro and Moshe Mizrakhi.

Yuval Naimi and Moran Rot of Hapoel Jerusalem, together with the emerging stars Yogev Okhayon of Nahariya and Gal Mekel of Gilboa/Galil, bring a fresh look to the backcourt and will fight for places in the final squad.

The rest of the names are: Nitzan Khanokhi, Robert Rothbart (both Nahariya), Yehu Orland, Uri Kukia (both Hapoel Holon), Avi Ben Chimol (Ashkelon), Elishay Kadir, Nir Cohen (both Gilboa/Galil) and Yoni Nir (Givat Shmuel).

Sherf, his assistants or colleagues in the national team set-up will hold talks with individuals and teams so everyone fully understands what stands in front of the players, including training schedules, ahead of the Final Round in Poland.

"We are starting the preparation period," Sherf said.

"Most of our plan is set, and we made some changes according to deductions from previous years to make things better for everyone.

"I want to wish everybody on the team, from the 24 players to everyone who works behind the scenes, all the best. The success of the national team is the success of Israeli basketball."

At the EuroBasket, which tips off on September 7, Israel will play in Group A in Poznan against Croatia, F.Y.R. Macedonia and Greece.