Nigeria named its final roster for the FIBA U-19 World Championship holding in Serbia this month on Saturday with three US-based players making the list.

Centre Solomon Alabi, Emmanuel Negedu, Joseph Katuka and Dele Coker are joining eight other Nigeria-based players in the quest by the Junior Tigers to conquer the world.

Also on the roster are two emerging point guards, Michael Ohiero and Daniel Daudu, while forward Abel Baraya, Ibrahim Adamu, Nosa Omoregbe and George Ehiagwina of Ebun Comets retain their slots from last year’s African junior championship in South Africa.

Deji Egbeyemi and Bukar Mohammed of Dodan Warriors complete the roster.

Adeka Odaudu, the head coach of the team, said he was optimistic that the team would do well in the competition, which the country has not made it before the group stage before.

“We have the boys who can play the game,” Odaudu said. “We want to go to Serbia and prove a point.”

Odaudu is being assisted by Masai Ujiri, who is becoming a free agent in the NBA today, Emmanuel Okolo and Emmanuel Odah of the Federal Capital Territory.

Nigeria is playing in the same group alongside Canada (July 12); defending champion Australia (July 13); and Turkey (July 14).

The team will be unveiled to the basketball public on Wednesday in Lagos.

According to Odaudu, the Nigerian contingent will travel for the championship on July 10, apparently because of lack of funds.

This will give the lads just a full day before their first match against Canada on July 12.

Oden teams up with Udoka

Nigeria international Ime Udoka has a new team mate, courtesy of the 2007 NBA Draft, which held on Thursday in New York. Udoka’s Portland, which won the lottery back in May, picked Greg Oden out of Ohio in Number 1.

Already, Oden, a 7ft centre, is causing excitement in Portland, with pundits saying he will lead the Trail Blazers to a title in the near future.

Udoka, who underwent surgery on a knee in the close season, teamed up with Portland in 2006 and is set to continue there as one of the shooting guards.

The Seattle Super Sonics picked Kevin Durant in No.2.

No Nigerian player was picked this year, a low for the country’s basketball considering the fact that Ejike Ugboaja was drafted by the Cleveland Cavaliers last season.