The Turkish Basketball Federation has officially announced the preliminary national team roster for the upcoming FIBA 2027 Basketball World Cup Qualifiers, featuring a blend of veteran EuroLeague talent and rising teenage prospects. According to official federation announcements, the squad will prepare to face Lithuania and Iceland in the opening window of the Second Round Group J fixtures.
Head coach and selection staff named a 17-player pool ahead of the international break, aiming to secure vital positioning in the qualification groups.
Match Schedule, Venues, and Tip-off Times
According to verified tournament schedules, the national team will host Lithuania on Friday, August 28, with tip-off scheduled for 21:00 local time (18:00 UTC) at the Turkcell Basketball Development Center in Istanbul.
Three days later, the team travels to Reykjavik for its second fixture of the window. The match against Iceland is set for Monday, August 31, at 22:30 local time TSİ (20:30 UTC) inside the Laugardalshöll Arena.
Preliminary Roster Highlights Youth and Experience
The 17-player candidate list showcases a deliberate strategy to combine established NBA and EuroLeague veterans with emerging young talent. Notable call-ups include young standouts Ömer Kutluay and Darius Karutasu, both of whom earned selection following standout individual campaigns at the recent FIBA U17 World Cup, where the U17 National Team finished in fourth place.
The complete preliminary roster announced by team management includes:
- Darius Karutasu
- Ercan Osmani
- Erkan Yılmaz
- Kenan Sipahi
- Malachi Emmanuel Flynn
- Berk İbrahim Uğurlu
- Furkan Korkmaz
- James Metecan Birsen
- Onuralp Bitim
- Sertaç Şanlı
- Şehmus Hazer
- Yiğitcan Saybir
- Yiğit Arslan
- Cedi Osman
- Adem Bona
- Ömer Faruk Yurtseven
- Ömer Kutluay
The inclusion of NBA and high-level European veterans such as Cedi Osman, Furkan Korkmaz, Adem Bona, and Ömer Faruk Yurtseven provides foundational stability alongside the younger generation led by Kutluay and Karutasu.
Stakes in Group J and the Qualification Path
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