Twenty five of Australia’s premier basketball stars will vie for a spot in the final team of 12 that will travel to London, after the 2012 Australian Boomers Basketball squad was announced today.

Headlining the squad list is NBA playmaker Patty Mills, as well as European-based stars David Andersen, Matt Nielsen, Joe Ingles, Brad Newley and David Barlow. Local NBL stars Mark Worthington, Adam Gibson and Damian Martin along with a number of other Australian-based stars will also be fighting for a spot in the final twelve that will represent the country in London.

Australian Boomers head coach Brett Brown said that he was excited about the list he has to draw upon to build a team to tackle the world’s best in London.

"Our coaching staff is excited to extend invitations to this group of athletes who have earned the right to be considered for the Boomers London Olympic Games team," said Brown.

"We have identified these players, worked with these players, and watched their growth over the past four years. The large majority of this squad has participated in several camps, tours, and world events during my time as coach, and now each of them has the opportunity to take it one final step and represent Australia at the London 2012 Olympic Games. This invitation is a tremendous honour and is a result of years of hard work and dedication," he said.

Also listed in the squad is young point guard Matthew Dellavedova who comes off a break-out year with US college the St Mary’s Gaels, leading a number of young college athletes who have also been named in the squad.

According to Brown, the extent of Aussie talent that stretches across the globe will make the preliminary preparations an exciting period and is a testament to Basketball Australia and the Australian Institute of Sport’s developmental pathways.

"Our first camp will be made up of several levels of Boomer prospects. We will have some core senior Boomer members, along with NBL and US college prospects,” said Brown.  

“Our first camp will effectively be a 'melting pot' of  players from various backgrounds and this very early start will enable us to begin moving forward while we wait for our core European players and Patty Mills to return," he said.

“How far our players stretch across the globe is a testament to the talent identification and developmental programs delivered by Basketball Australia and the AIS. I have great Aussie talent competing all over the world at my disposal,” he said.   

According to Brown, there is a level of fitness that the players will be expected to arrive in, with the group’s collective mission to be the best conditioned side in London, something that he feels is critical for the Boomers to achieve success.

"All of the athletes understand that we need to arrive into London with the best fitness base of the 11 other countries. This is our main goal,” he said.

“Each player will arrive into camp with this in mind, and only here can we truly begin a very serious campaign and focus as we prepare to play the world's best. Our players understand this.

I am beyond excited to continue on in the final stages of our four year plan. We have not skipped steps along the way and I have complete confidence that we can achieve special results with the players and staff that we have assembled."

The Boomers’ 2012 preparations continue on 3 June, where the available members of the squad will gather in Perth for Camp 1. 

2012 AUSTRALIA BOOMERS BASKETBALL SQUAD

Name / Height / Position / DOB / Club

David ANDERSEN / 211cm / Centre / 23-06-1980 / Montepaschi Siena (Italy)

David BARLOW / 205cm / Guard-Forward / 22-10-1983 / UCAM Murcia (Spain) 

Aron BAYNES / 207cm / Centre / 09-12-1986 / Ikaros Kallitheas (Greece)

Anatoly BOSE /  200cm / Guard / 06-12-1988 / Sydney Kings (NBL) 

Ryan BROEKHOFF / 201cm / Guard-Forward / 23-08-1990 / Valparaiso (US College) 

Peter CRAWFORD / 193cm / Guard / 06-11-1979 / Townsville Crocodiles (NBL) 

Mitch CREEK / 197cm / Forward / 27-04-1992 / Adelaide 36ers (NBL) 

Matt DELLAVEDOVA / 190cm / Guard / 08-09-1990 / St Mary’s (US College)

Anthony DRMIC / 196cm / Guard / 25-02-1992 / Boise State (US College) 

Adam GIBSON / 188cm / Guard / 30-10-1984 / Gold Coast Blaze (NBL)

Hugh GREENWOOD 189cm / Guard / 06-03-1992 / New Mexico (US College)

Joe INGLES / 203cm / Forward / 02-10-1987 / Regal FC Barcelona (Spain)

Nathan JAWAI / 208cm / Forward / 10-10-1986 / UNCIS Kazan (Russia)

Julian KHAZZOUH / 209cm / Centre / 23-02-1986 / Sydney Kings (NBL) 

Daniel KICKERT / 208cm / Forward / 29-05-1983 / PGE Turow (Poland)

Matt KNIGHT / 204cm / Forward-Centre / 31-05-1985 / Perth Wildcats (NBL)

Aleks MARIC / 211cm / Centre / 22-10-1984 / Panathinaikos (Greece) 

Damian MARTIN / 188cm / Guard / 02-09-1984 /  Perth Wildcats (NBL)

Patrick MILLS / 183cm / Guard / 11-08-1988 / San Antonio Spurs (NBA)

Brock MOTUM / 206cm / Forward / 16-10-1990 / Washington State University (US College)

Brad NEWLEY / 199cm / Guard-Forward / 18-02-1985 / Valencia (Spain)

Matthew NIELSEN / 209cm / Forward / 03-02-1979 / BC Khimki (Russia)

AJ OGILVY / 211cm / Forward-Centre / 17-06-1988 / Valencia (Spain) 

Jesse WAGSTAFF / 203cm / Forward / 30-04-1986 / Perth Wildcats (NBL)

Mark WORTHINGTON / 202cm / Forward / 08-06-1983 / Gold Coast Blaze (NBL)

Basketball Australia