Gianmarco Pozzecco names 20.
Italbasket, the 20 summoned by Gianmarco Pozzecco
Gianmarco Pozzecco has released the list of 20 summoned players for the 'February window' the last in the cycle of EuroBasket 2025 qualifiers. Scheduled are the challenges against Turkey (February 20 in Istanbul) and Hungary (February 23 in Reggio Calabria).
Having achieved arithmetic qualification in November, the coach of Italbasket has formed a young but talented roster with sure prospects. A way to give space to the’future of the national team while keeping the level of quality high to try to win two important competitions for the FIBA ranking in view of the group draw of the EuroBasket 2025, which will be held from August 27 to September 14 among Latvia, Poland, Finland and Cyprus.
In a Reggio Calabria that welcomed, in 1998, a 21-year-old and then-unknown Manu Ginobili, Italy will arrive with some of the best prospects of our basketball. Gabriele Procida and Matteo Spagnolo, despite having 20 and 26 appearances respectively in the national team, already have behind them a World Cup with the Azzurri (2023) and numerous starring games in the Euroleague with the Germans of the’Alba Berlin. With them, summoned also Dame Sarr, 2006 of Barcelona who made his debut in November in Reggio Emilia, Saliou Niang, one of the best Azzurri surprises of this Serie A with Trento, Francesco Ferrari, class 2005 author so far of a framing season in A2 with Cividale and Grant Basile, also in A2 in Cantù with almost 17 points per game average. The’experience will come from players who are still young but already 'navigated' such as, among others, Nico Mannion, Ale Pajola and Luca Severini.
The Azzurri will arrive in Reggio Calabria after facing Turkey in Istanbul on Thursday, Feb. 20 at Basketbol Gelisim Merkezi, the old 'Abdi Ipekci' which has now become the headquarters and development center of the Turkish federation as well as the home of’Efes and Galatasaray. Two-way ball at 6:30 p.m. local, 8:30 p.m. Italian time with live coverage on DAZN, Sky Sport Arena and Now. On Sunday, Feb. 23, the highly anticipated return to PalaCalafiore for a challenge to Hungary with ball at 8:30 p.m. and live on DAZN, Sky Sport Uno and Now.
The 20 Azzurri – Italbasket
N. Athlete Year Height Role Team
1 Nico Mannion 2001 190 Playmaker EA7 Emporio Armani Milano
2 Dame Sarr 2006 196 Guard Barcelona (Spain)
11 Davide Moretti 1998 190 Playmaker/Guard Umana Reyer Venezia
18 Matteo Spagnolo 2003 193 Playmaker/Guard Alba Berlin (Germany)
19 Gabriele Procida 2002 198 Guard/Ala Alba Berlin (Germany)
20 Saliou Niang 2004 199 Wing Dolomiti Energia Trentino
21 Grant Basile 2000 206 Wing Acqua San Bernardo Cantù
22 Giordano Bortolani 2000193 Guard EA7 Emporio Armani Milan
24 Francesco Ferrari 2005 196 Wing Ueb Gesteco Cividale
25 Tommaso Baldasso 1998 193 Playmaker Bertram Tortona
28 Davide Casarin 2003 197 Playmaker/Guard Umana Reyer Venezia
30 Gugliemo Caruso 1999 208 Wing/Center EA7 Emporio Armani Milan
34 Leonardo Leonardo Totè 1997 212 Centro Napoli Basket
35 Mouhamet Diouf 2001 206 Wing/Center Virtus Segafredo Bologna
37 Matteo Librizzi 2002 181 Playmaker Openjobmetis Varese
38 Riccardo Rossato 1996 189 Guard Trapani Shark
40 Luca Severini 1996 204 Wing Bertram Tortona
44 Sasha Grant 2002 202 Ala Unahotels Reggio Emilia
45 Nicola Akele 1995 203 Ala Virtus Segafredo Bologna
54 Alessandro Pajola 1999 194 Playmaker Virtus Segafredo Bologna
