KILLIAN Gribben has been named in a 12-man Ireland squad for the FIBA European Challenge 2021.
The LYIT Donegal/Letterkenny Blaze ace has been included by Ireland U18 head coach Paul Kelleher.
The challenge will take place in Levice, Slovakia from August 3rd-8th.
Gribben, who stands a towering 6’8”, is one of five uncapped players selected although he featured for Ireland in the FIBA U17 Skills Challenge 2020.
Gribben has just completed his Leaving Certificate exams at St Eunan’s College.
Kelleher said: “In many ways this was the most difficult selection we’ve ever had to make. Not being on the floor very long, really getting to know all the players on a different level for a lot longer than usual, has made this really difficult.
“We’ve spent so many Sunday nights on zoom, interacting more than we’ve ever done before. I personally would have enjoyed and loved to have spent more basketball time with this group, but it just wasn’t possible.
“Now we have our 12 selected players, we will practice as much as we can, continue to develop individually and collectively and see how it works out for us.”
In May FIBA cancelled all 2021 Youth European Championships, replacing them with the FIBA European Challenge 2021. Ireland’s U18 men are in a seven-team tournament and will face Bulgaria and Hungary in their group.
The other group contains Romania, Ukraine, Switzerland and Slovakia. The fixture schedule and competition format is still to be confirmed.
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