MADRID (AfroBasket 2015) - In a turn of events, Yanick Moreira has joined Angola's preliminary squad for AfroBasket 2015.
Just a few days ago, the 24-year-old announced his decision to pull out of his national team because of a preseason commitment with the Los Angeles Clippers, but on Tuesday he joined the Angolans for the remainder of their training camp currently taking place in the outskirts of Madrid, Spain.
And, head coach Moncho Lopez, who is working with a 15-player squad and is yet to make the final cuts, has one more option at his disposal.
Last month Moreira played for the Clippers in the Las Vegas Summer League camp, where he averaged 9.6 points and 5. rebounds in five games.
If all goes according to the Angolans’ plans, the 2.11m center could play his first-ever AfroBasket, even though he has represented his country at 2008 U18 African Championship.
Angola have been drawn in Group B with Morocco, Mozambique and Senegal, and are one of the title contenders, although they will compete in Tunisia without influential Milton Barros, Olimpio Cipriano and Joaquim Gomes.
The African championship runs from 19 to 30 August in Tunisia.