Sherf calls up Jamie Arnold

Nat'l team coach releases list of players invited to start of training camp ahead of Eurobasket qualifying games.

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
jamie arnold 298.88 (photo credit: Associated Press)
jamie arnold 298.88
(photo credit: Associated Press)
National team coach Tzvika Sherf on Tuesday released the list of players that he has invited to the start of training camp ahead of the Eurobasket qualifying games against Bosnia-Herzegovina, Portugal and Macedonia in August and September. The biggest news was the inclusion of Maccabi Tel Aviv big man Jamie Arnold, who was only granted citizenship in June. Captain Tal Burstein, who is still recovering from surgery after suffering an Achilles injury in the BSL Championship game last month, was omitted. Also included were Israel's two recent NBA Draftees, Lior Eliyahu and Yotam Halperin. The call-up is Eliyahu's first to the senior national team. Halperin, who is in Seattle preparing to play with the SuperSonics' team at the summer league in Utah, will miss the start of practices on July 18. Only the top two teams in the qualifying group will be assured spots at Eurobasket 2007 in Spain. Israel failed to qualify automatically for Eurobasket 2005, but secured a berth via the last chance tournament. That team, which Sherf inherited from David Blatt days before training began, defeated Spain in the group stage as it advanced to the knock-out stage, where it lost to eventual champion Greece. Israel will host Bosnia-Herzegovina in the group's opening game on August 31. Guards: Yotam Halperin (Olimija Ljubljana), Dror Hajaj (AEK Athens), Erez Katz (Elitzur Ashkelon), Raviv Limonad (Hapoel Jerusalem), Afik Nissim (BC Kiev), Moran Roth (Maccabi Rishon), Meir Tapiro (Hapoel Jerusalem). Forwards: Jamie Arnold (Maccabi Tel Aviv), Lior Eliyahu (Maccabi Tel Aviv), Ido Kozikaro, (Hapoel Jerusalem), Moshe Mizrahi (Elitzur Ashkelon), Matan Naor (Hapoel Jerusalem), Guy Pnini (Bnei Hasharon), Sharon Shason (Maccabi Tel Aviv), Gur Shelef (Antwerp). Centers: Yaniv Green (Maccabi Tel Aviv), Erez Marckovitch (Hapoel Jerusalem), Amit Tamir (Maccabi Givat Shmuel).