Group B - Great Britain Roster

Time to begin the predictions of the roster.. maybe a prize for those who get the most correct prior to the announcement

Rose Anderson G 1.78 23.03.1988 Edinburgh (SCO)
Laura Butters SF 1.78 25.07.1986 Eastbourne (ENG)
Meagan Hoffman PF 1.83 28.11.1982 Denver (USA)
Rosalee Mason PF 1.80 24.04.1979 London (ENG)
Sarah McKay C 2.01 05.12.1985 Mission (CAN)
Lauren Thomas-Johnson G 1.80 25.05.1988 Stockport (ENG)
4 Natalie Robyn Stafford 1.75 08.12.1976 Sydney (AUS)
6 Stefanie Collins SG 1.68 30.12.1982 Upper Heyford (ENG)
7 Rachael Ann Vanderwal 1.76 27.06.1983 Burlington (CAN)
8 Chantelle Handy SF 1.91 16.06.1987 Consett (ENG)
10 Julie Page PF 1.88 21.04.1983 Manchester (ENG)
11 Kimberly Butler PF 1.86 07.09.1982 Tacoma, WA (USA)
12 Lisa Hutchinson PG 1.73 12.05.1983 Bury (ENG)
13 Johannah Leedham G 1.80 05.12.1987 Chester (ENG)
14 Azania Stewart C 1.95 13.03.1989 London (ENG)
21 Jenaya Wade-Fray 1.75 05.09.1988 Paget (BER)
22 Joanna Clayden SG 1.78 02.01.1984 Blackpool (ENG)

I'd expect Georgia Jones to be back in the mix - though there's always pressure from US colleges not to.

I can't imagine Hoffman displacing Stafford as the naturalised player. Natalie's return to Aus, but really enjoyed it & should be sharper with a second year under her belt after six years out - and she's playing in a tougher league.

Yeah, Jones was the main one I was going to mention from outside the list as well. The main holes in the qualifying games were in the backcourt, with Stafford, Stef Collins, Wade-Frey, Leedham sliding over and the occasional minute from assorted bench players just about getting it done by committee. Stafford was a nice experienced head back there compared to the alternatives and I can't imagine she'd be replaced as the naturalised player unless someone exceptional rears their head (never know what might emerge from the woodwork - anyone checked Crystal Langhorne's heritage? ).

As for the roster overall, Leedham, Page, Butler, Collins, Stafford and Stewart all seem practical certainties as long as they're healthy and show up. After that it's still wide open. Hopefully Jones is there; then I liked the little I saw of Chantelle Handy, who's been getting heavy minutes and starting for Aris in Greece and the EuroCup; Ros Mason might get another look despite being about 95 years old, simply because there are so few people around who can create their own offense; Yemi Oyefuwa might be able to help if she's healthy, although she's barely playing (again) for Maryland; Lauren Thomas-Johnson should get another look in training camp after being a somewhat surprising late cut last year; and then it's the same round of kids, backups and god-help-us-I-hope-she-doesn't-have-to-plays to fill out the roster (plus hopefully one or two I've completely forgotten).

I love this team's heart, and I travelled up and down the country watching them during qualifying, but we ain't deep.

Rose is only 33, on ability she'd be in. Without knowing the full details, I understand it was her attitude that didn't impress Maher - let's face it, he's an intense, all-or-nothing guy.

You're right about the (lack of depth), and three games in three days could definitely hurt. Maybe the final couple of spots should be reserved for young players to get experience (as with Dan Clark in Poland 2009) rather than players you really don't want on the court anyway. Is it 14 or 12 player rosters for the women?

12.

Okay, maybe just the one spot for a kid, then

Were they not talking about pushing it up to 15 this year?

Georgia Jones
Kim Butler
Julie Page
Johanna Leedham
Azania Stewart
Natalie Stafford although personally i would take stef gandy (maher feels she is too short but i still think she brings more than stafford)
Stef Collins
Sarah Mckay
Wade-fray
Rose Anderson
Chantelle Handy
Rose Mason (also heard her attitude is keeping her out)

Someone that hasn't got a mention is Mary Durojaye. I know she is a long shot but what she has been doing at robert morris is very noticable. I would say she is the english kid making the most noise in college right now.

(top seven for sure if healthy and available, next 5 are guesses)

What's the other Leedham up to these days?

Jen is in her second year as the assistant coach for Franklin Pierce (which is who Jess Hurd is now playing for)
Kirsty Leedham is playing for Caldwell College which i believe is NCAA Div 2

Wasn't there a rumour floating around that McKay was retiring from the game because her body kept breaking down? Is she actually playing anywhere at the minute?

That seemed to be "the word" at the NIA when we started the qualifiers last year. Which is a real shame

ROSTER

Player Height (Ft) Position Birthdate Team 2010-11

Georgia Jones 1.72 (5-8) 1 03/04/90 Oral Roberts University (USA)

Lisa Hutchinson 1.73 (5-8) 1 12/05/83 City of Sheffield Hatters

Rose Anderson 1.78 (5-10) 2/3 23/03/88

Natalie Stafford 1.73 (5-8) 1/2 08/12/76 Sydney Uni Flames (AUS)

Jenaya Wade-Frey 1.75 (5-9) 1/2 05/09/88 City Of Sheffield Hatters

Stefanie Collins 1.74 (5-9) 2 30/12/82 UWIC Archers

Rachel Vanderwal 1.76 (5-9) 2 27/06/83 University of Limerick (IRE)

Joanna Clayden 1.78 (5-10) 2 02/01/84 Leeds Carnegie

Johannah Leedham 1.80 (5-11) 2/3 05/12/87 Gorzow (POL)

Ros Mason 1.80 (5-11) 3 24/04/79 Solna Vikings (SWE)

Chantelle Handy 1.91 (6-3) 4 16/06/87 Aris (GRE)

Kimberly Butler 1.86 (6-1) 4 07/09/82 Palacio De Congresos De Ibiza (ESP)

Julie Page 1.88 (6-2) 4 21/04/83 ESB Lille Metropole (FRA)

Sarah McKay 2.01 (6-7) 5 05/12/85 Acer ERG Priolo (ITA)

Azania Stewart 1.95 (6-5) 5 13/03/89 Florida (USA)



Coach: Tom Maher


Going to prob guess on the above as a 15 ....

When did McKay ever sign or play for Priolo? Would be great if she was healthy enough to play at that level, but there hasn't been any evidence of her in a box score or on the typically comprehensive website for the Italian league.

Her agency site says she has contract with them until 30.05.2011 - http://www.regeneracomsports.com/basketball_women_player-sarah_mckay-323.html
Maybe she got injured and her contract has been terminated.

Yep, take on board your point but if she is contracted to a club (whether she plays or not) then I guess that is her 2010-11 club?????

Maybe Gandy is only realistic absence from my list of main candidates?

Not actually directly related to EuroBasket but the decision on both GB team automatic bid for the Olympic qualification will be announced at 7PM CET here.

Congrats to the Brits on the automatic qualification for the Olympics.

Or in other words, yay.

Jesus, the tickets are going to cost me a fortune...

Now if Britain fails to win a game in EuroBasket, the 6th placed team should be really pissed off with FIBA. If they wouldn't have handed out the auto bid, 2nd through 6th team would have qualified for the additional qualifying tournament from Europe, instead now only 2nd through 5th ranked teams in Eurobasket gets to that stage.

Except, the hosts should participate. I understand FIBA making such an issue out of this whole process, because basketball has been a mess in this country for a long time, but the hosts should get to play and if you're sixth in Europe then you can sod off anyway. Greece got to host EuroBasket Women in 2003, prior to hosting the Olympics in 2004, and still finished ninth. Don't remember anyone making an issue out of them getting an automatic spot in 2004.

There'll be crappy teams in the Olympic basketball tournament, just like there always are, because they get in from weaker areas of the world. That's fine, because it makes it a truly global tournament. Including the hosts adds to the tournament and experience as well, even if they wouldn't have been good enough to qualify by right. It's the right decision (and I honestly believe I'd be saying that even if the hosts were any other country).

And hey, it means there'll be some meaning to the 5th/6th playoff at EuroBasket for once . Unless, of course, GB are in the top six...

I'm not a fan of Olympic principles if there's such a limited field of participants.

British Basketball has announced the 16 players who will be entering the first Standard Life GB women’s camp of 2011.

The team will assemble at Surrey Sports Park on 1 May 2011 to prepare for the start of the international season.

The initial 16 will go through a tough and busy camp schedule which will then see the team cut to 12 players ready for EuroBasket later in the summer.



The 16 Standard Life GB women’s first test will be when they compete in the Game On 2011, ‘British Basketball Invitational Tournament’ which takes place in Surrey on 18 May.



The four day event will see the Standard Life GB women face three top international teams in the invitational tournament - Germany, Latvia and Cuba.



Standard Life GB women’s team head coach, Tom Maher commented on the selection of women heading into camp: “This is a tremendously exciting time for British Basketball. Selection is always difficult but we have assembled the best list possible and hope to continue to make significant inroads against the rest of Europe.

“It is important that the players prepare well for camp so we can build on the progress we made last season, both individually and as a team.”

The women were drawn in Group B for this year’s EuroBasket competition and are set to face Belarus, Israel, and Czech Republic.

The 16 women selected to attend the camp beginning on 1 May 2011 are:

Name


Home Nation


Club/College

Rose Anderson


Scotland


University Central Oklahoma, Edmond (graduated), USA

Mairi Buchan


Scotland


Old Diminion University, USA

Kim Butler


England


Palacio De Congresos De Ibiza, Spain

Kate Butters


England


UWIC Archers, Cardiff, Wales

Stef Collins


England


UWIC Archers, Cardiff, Wales

Steph Gandy


England


Sheffield Hatters, UK

Chantelle Handy


England


Aris, Thessalonikis, Greece

Jo Leedham


England


Unattached

Ros Mason


England


Solna Vikings, Sweden

Sarah Naylor


England


Sheffield Hatters, UK

Yemi Oyefuwa


England


University of Maryland, College Park, USA

Julie Page


England


Villeneuve D’Ascq, France

Natalie Stafford


England


Sydney Flames, AUS

Azania Stewart


England


Florida University, USA

Lauren Thomas-Johnson


England


Gran Canaria, La Caja De Canarias, Spain

Rachel Vanderwall


England


University of Limerick, Ireland

Notable omissions:
Georgia Jones - disappointingly left out again. Dunno why, as last I checked she was healthy and playing in college in the US, and it's sure as hell not like we're overflowing with talented guards.
Jenaya Wade-Frey - dropped, for some reason. Little bit wild, but if she's healthy I don't see why she wouldn't have been included either.

Otherwise, I think pretty much everyone's there we would've expected. No McKay, like we thought, and Thomas-Johnson, Oyefuwa and Mason all get another shot.