A total of 27 players have been called up by the Nigeria Basketball Federation, ahead of the 2016 Olympic Games.
All the 12 players that won the 2015 AfroBasket in Tunisia made the cut and there are eight new faces included.
Among the newcomers are Golden State Warriors centre Festus Ezeli and Thanasis Antetokounmpo of the New York Knicks’ D-League affiliate Westchester Knicks.
Home-based players Abubakar Usman and Stanley were also called up.
“These are the players that our head coach thought were right to work with,” Umar Tijjani, NBBF Chairman, told FIBA.com.
“The 28th name was supposed to be Victor Oladipo but he has not yet decided and we don’t want to put his name out before his decision.
“He has been in training camp with the US national team and he has not made the team. So, sometimes decisions can be very tough when it comes to that.”
Nigeria are in Group B alongside Spain, Brazil, Argentina, Lithuania, as well as one of the three teams that will qualify via the 2016 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournaments (OQTs).
The team’s training camp is expected to open in Los Angeles or Bakersfield in June.
Full 27-player preliminary squad: Usman Abubukar, Alade Aminu, Al-Farouq Aminu, Josh Akognon, Thanasis Antetokounmpo, Suleiman Braimoh, Folarin Campbell, Ike Diogu, Ebi Ere, Festus Ezeli, Michael Gbinije, Stanley Gumut, Ekene Ibekwe, Shane Lawal, Trevor Mbakwe, David Nwaelele, Derrick Obasohan, Ike Ofoegbu, Andy Ogide, Chamberlain Oguchi, Stan Okoye, Jamal Olasewere, Olumide Oyedeji, Mike Umeh, Mfon Udofia, Ekpe Udoh and Ben Uzoh.
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