Australian Boomers coach Brian Goorjian has a selection headache on his hands as he is forced to cut his squad from 13 to 12 before the start of the 2023 FIBA World Cup.
Starting with a squad of 20 players, Goorjian has already cut NBL stars Sam Froling, Keanu Pinder and Will McDowell-White along with Thon Maker and NBA veteran Matthew Dellavedova.
With just one more cut needed to be made NBA stars Xavier Cooks and Jack White have been heavily rumoured to be fighting it out for the final spot.
Along with the aforementioned pair, The Daily Telegraph’s Matt Logue revealed two more names that are stunningly in contention to battle it out to make the World Cup squad.
“A lot of people are saying it’s going to come down to Xavier Cooks versus Jack White,” Logue told SEN 1170 Mornings.
“I’m also hearing murmurs that it could be other players; it could potentially come down to Dyson Daniels versus Josh Green, which is just incredible to think.
“Basketball is in such a strong position, the Boomers program is, they’re tough headaches for ‘Goorj’ but they’re good ones to have.”
Logue also opened up on the tough decision to cut three-time Olympian, Dellavedova but revealed why he believes it was the right call to make.
“It’s a testament to the depth of this Australian side, the Tokyo Olympic side was fantastic but this for the World Cup is going to be even better,” Logue added.
“Delly, such a loyal servant, three-time Olympian, he filled and captained the team during the FIBA window when the NBA guys were away, he will go down as a Boomers legend but the time has come.
“They probably want to learn a lesson from the 2000, the home Olympics (where) the likes of (Andrew) Gaze, (Andrew) Vlahov, (Mark) Bradtke, they all retired at once and there wasn’t necessarily that progression plan, I don’t think they want to do that again.”
The Boomers will play in three exhibition games in the lead to the World Cup with the first game against Venezuela in Melbourne on August 14th.
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