Ahead of the announcement of the men’s and women’s squads for Birmingham 2022 in mid-June, head coaches Julius Joseph and Stef Collins selected ‘long lists’ of players with the majority attending a four-day camp in Manchester starting on Sunday.
Following that, the duo will choose four-player squads to represent Great Britain at the FIBA 3x3 Europe Cup qualifiers in Constanta, Romania on 4-5 June.
And as the countdown to the Games begins in earnest, England squads of six players will attend a further camp at Novi Sad, Serbia and tournaments in Belgrade and Voiron, France.
Final selections for the Games – two squads of four, each with two reserves – will be confirmed next month in conjunction with Team England, with the 3x3 competition at Birmingham 2022 taking place between July 29 and 2 August.
First the players will represent GB with the aim of reaching the Europe Cup Finals. The draws for the pools placed GB's men with Spain and Turkey and the women, who reached the finals of last year’s competition, playing Denmark and Hungary.
After that the players switch to full preparation mode for Team England, with the trips to Serbia and France – where they will face top-class international opposition.
A number of closed warm-up events will follow in the UK ahead of the Games, with Basketball England Head of Talent and Performance targeting medals.
Ten female and 12 male players will join the Manchester camp this weekend. All, plus a handful of others, including GB star Myles Hesson, are available for potential selection ahead of the Games deadline.
Shanice Beckford-Norton - London Lions
Temi Fagbenle - CBK Mersin
Cheridene Green - DVTK Miskolc
Oceana Hamilton - Leicester Riders
Chantelle Handy - TTT Riga
Ebony Horton - Sheffield Hatters
Shequila Joseph - London Lions
Hannah Jump - Stanford University
Abby Lowe - Durham Palatinates
Louise Rouse - Loughborough Riders
Clubs/teams listed are last played for
Jamell Anderson - Manchester Giants
Andre Arissol - Solent Kestrels
Danny Evans - Villarrobledo
Kayne Henry - Jacksonville State
Orlan Jackman - Solent Kestrels
Callum Jones - Manchester Giants
Kofi Josephs - Plymouth City Patriots
Max Richardson - Solent Kestrels
Sesan Russell - Florida Tech
Josh Steel - Manchester Giants
Conner Washington - Leicester Riders
Jordan Williams - London Lions
Clubs/teams listed are last played for
29 May-1 June: Invitational Camp, NBPC, Manchester
4-5 June: FIBA 3x3 Europe Cup Qualifiers, Constanta, Romania
7-9 June: Training Camp, Novi Sad, Serbia
10-11 June: International Tournament, Belgrade, Serbia
17-18 June: Big Twelve Tournament, Voiron, France
19-22 July: Team England Immersion Camp, Loughborough
25-26 July: Closed warm-up event, Birmingham
29 July-2 Aug: Commonwealth Games 3x3 competition, Birmingham
9-11 Sept: FIBA 3x3 Europe Cup Finals, Graz, Austria
"We have had to get our heads wrapped around the 3x3 format and how we were going to make two medal winning teams. And we had a successful campaign last summer. The girls made it to the Europe Cup Finals with GB. The men's missed it by one game, but we think there's more to come. And this summer, as England, I guess we've got to prove it.
“The coaches have some work to do in selecting the players they want then using the preparation schedule we have prepared to build momentum towards the Games. It should be an exciting summer.”
“The road to the Birmingham 2022 starts at camp on Sunday and we are excited for the journey ahead. We have a mixture of familiar and new faces from last year which is important in continuing the team's learnings.
“This camp is an important part of the journey and will be a great opportunity for the players to show what they can do. We are expecting the guys to bond quickly and take on the challenges of 3x3. We hope they can thrive under the pressures 3x3 can wield and look forward to seeing some exciting talent.
“We are looking forward to returning to the FIBA 3x3 Europe Cup Qualifiers in Romania as this was a great experience for the team last year. It is important the guys are battle tested and comfortable with the pressures of the environment of 3x3 basketball, and Romania will provide a good test. This is good step in the preparation towards the Commonwealth Games this summer and we are embracing the challenge.”
"We are all looking forward to the start of our Commonwealth Games preparation this summer as we head into our invitational camp in Manchester this weekend. We’ve learned a lot in the past 12 months, and will continue to grow as a team in the 3x3 format.
“I can’t wait to get to work with the players and staff, there is a great mix of fresh and familiar faces. It will be important that we come together quickly in camp and develop as a cohesive group on and off the court as we head into the Europe Cup qualifiers in Romania and will certainly use this opportunity as preparation for Team England ahead of the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham this summer."
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