Ireland name six uncapped players in squad for FIBA EuroBasket 2029 qualifiers

Ireland head coach Michael Bree has named six uncapped players in his final 12-man squad for an upcoming friendly with Armenia in Los Angeles as well as their FIBA EuroBasket 2029 pre-qualifiers against North Macedonia and Azerbaijan.

Ben Stevens (Alliance Montreal), Leeroy Odiahi (Western Kentucky, USA), Declan Gbinigie (Titans BC), Aivaras Uosis (Carsen Newman University, USA), Tiernan Stynes (Quincy University, USA) and Victor Okojie (UMass Lowell, USA) could all make their senior debuts if they take to the floor against the Armenians before those qualifiers in Skopje and Baku on July 2nd and July 5th.

Ballincollig's Adrian O'Sullivan is the only Cork player in the squad, while his brother Ciaran will be part of the coaching staff.

It’s the second time Ireland will face Armenia in LA, following a 92-91 defeat in the Los Angeles International Basketball Cup two years ago.

“The game against Armenia is a great opportunity for a new look group to gel against a tough opponent and put their hand up for the games against North Macedonia and Azerbaijan,” said head coach Michael Bree.

“It’s a very new group when you add Sean (Fitzpatrick) and Max (Amadasun) - who have only been with us for a couple of windows - so it’s important Sean (Flood), Adrian (O’Sullivan) and Sam (Alajiki) to keep driving the standards we’ve been working to achieve during the current qualifying campaign.

“There’s plenty of exciting talent in the squad, so I’m looking forward to getting to work with them and seeing how quickly we can put things together. 

"Our aim as always is to pick up wins, so we’re focused on doing that starting with Armenia on Saturday night."

Ireland currently sit in fourth place in Group A with a 1-3 record, following a 76-75 defeat to Azerbaijan and a 91-85 win over Luxembourg in our previous window in March.

Ireland Men’s Squad: Max Amadasun (Cultural Y Deportiva Leonesa, SPA), Rapolas Buivydas (Belfast Star), Sean Flood (Heroes Den Bosch, NED), Sean Fitzpatrick (UCD Marian), Sam Alajiki (Giorgio Tesi Group Pistona, ITA), Declan Gbinigie (Titans BC), Aivaras Uosis (Carsen Newman University, USA), Ben Stevens (Alliance Monteral, CAN), Adrian O’Sullivan (Ballincollig BC), Tiernan Stynes (Quincy University, USA), Leeroy Odiahi (Western Kentucky, USA), Victor Okojie (UMass Lowell, USA).