Boomers caps for eight in qualifiers

ILLAWARRA, Cairns and New Zealand may have missed out on of the NBL playoffs, but the season hasn’t been fruitless for some of their stars who have been recruited for Australia’s world title campaign.

Basketball Australia has named eight senior debutants for the FIBA World Cup qualifiers with Kazakhstan on February 22 and Iran on February 25. Boomers coach Andrej Lemanis says because the window is before the NBL playoffs, it is a chance to blood new players with the national side.

“The NBL and clubs have been amazing in their support of the national team,” he said.

“We were conscious to work with the clubs, ensuring the welfare of all players and minimising the disruption for those players in the NBL finals. As a result, it opens up a wonderful opportunity for some new talent to shine.”

Despite Illawarra’s humbling by the New Zealand Breakers on Thursday, small forward Tim Coenraad and Daniel Grida and point guard Emmett Naar will all earn their senior caps in the qualifiers.

Breakers point guard Jarrad Weeks, Cairns Taipans forward Lucas Walker, Adelaide 36ers centre Daniel Johnson and teammate Nathan Sobey will also run on with the Boomers for the first time.

Sydney Kings point guard Tom Wilson has also been made available to start for the Boomers, along with several internationally based players.

NBA G-League stars Mitch Creek from the Long Island Nets and Isaac Humphries of the Erie Bayhawks, Jock Landale from Serbia’s Partizan and Mangok Mathiang from Italy’s Guerino Vanoli Basket will all debut for Australia.

“To give these guys exposure at an international level is exciting for them and it’s exciting for us as a coaching staff,” Lemanis said.