June 16, 2008
PITTSBURGH - Incoming Kentucky transfer Morakinyo Williams (More-a-KEEN-yo) (Solihull, England/Alexandria, Va. Bishop Ireton) and former Duke Kieron Achara (Stirling, Scotland/Stirling/Maine Central Institute) will both be representing Duquesne University on British Basketball rosters this summer.
Williams, a 6-11 center who announced his transfer to DU last week, was named to the 15-man U20 squad which will compete in the European Division B Championships August 1-10 in Targu Mures, Romania. Achara, who finished his career ranked 19th on Duquesne's all-time scoring list with 1,240 career points, was one of 27 players named to the National Team preliminary roster.
"With strength and depth in the squad, this looks to be a promising summer with plenty of opportunity for players to place themselves in a position of involvement for future Great Britain programmes building towards 2012," said U20 head coach Tim Lewis of the roster that was announced June 12.
Achara joins NBA stars Luol Deng and Ben Gordon, former Atlantic 10 players Pops Mensah-Bonsu (George Washington) and Dzaflo Larkai (La Salle) and current A-10 player Ben Eaves (Rhode Island) among those who hope to impress coach Chris Finch at the London selection camp in August.
The National Team will be attempting to qualify for the European Championships in 2009-10 and eventually the 2012 London Olympic Games.
"It is by far the strongest list of names put out in the history of any of the home countries or Great Britain, we're really fortunate to have such a quality group," said Finch who will assemble and assess his squad at their training camp in August at Brunel University, before making his final selection.
The National Team's first EuroBasket Division A game is vs. Israel in Israel on Sept. 3.
For additional information, visit the British Basketball website at www.basketballgb.com.
Great Britain Men's U20 Roster (announced June 12):
Fahro Alihodzic - St. Francis De Sales
Ben Allison - Davidson College
Devan Bailey - Holy Cross University
Darryle Bethune - Hackney
Matthew Bryan-Amaning - Washington University
Sam Fernley - St. Francis
Alhaii Allie Fullah - Hackney
Ashley Hamilton - Loyola Marymount University
Orlan Jackman - Manchester
Ben Mockford - Oak Hill Academy
Mike Ochereobia - Hackney
Ben Russell - Aguimes
Colin Sing - Laurenburg Academy
Menelik Watson - Aguimes
Morakinyo "Mike" Williams - Duquense University
Team Great Britain Invitees (announced June 5):
Robert Archibald - Azovmash
Kieron Achara - Duquesne University
Andy Betts - Cajasol
Eric Boateng - Arizona State University
Flinder Boyd - Rosalia
Dan Clark - Leche Rio
Luol Deng - Chicago Bulls
Ben Eaves - University of Rhode Island
Germayne Forbes - Boulazac
Joel Freeland - Gran Canaria
Nick George - Alicante
Ben Gordon - Chicago Bulls
Paul Guede - Tallahassee Community College
Matt Guymon - Oklahoma City University
Steve Hansell - Apoel
Jarrett Hart - Keravnos
Dzaflo Larkai - Bellarmine
Mike Lenzly - Mons Hainaut
Steve Leven - Newcastle Eagles
Pops Mensah-Bonsu - Benetton
Richard Midgley - Everton Tigers
Nate Reinking - Mons Hainaut
Ryan Richards - Gran Canaria
Justin Robinson - Rider University
Andrew Sullivan - Mons Hainaut
Shane Walker - University of Maryland
Yorick Williams - Marshall MK Lions
