ROME (FIBA EuroBasket 2017) - Italy have revealed their hand for their upcoming FIBA EuroBasket 2017 campaign, with head coach Ettore Messina announcing a 19-player squad for the Azzurri training camp at the end of July.

The 57-year-old basketball mastermind will have his most important offensive weapons available, with both of the country’s NBA stars, Danilo Gallinari and Marco Belinelli, included on the list.

Belinelli, recently traded to the Atlanta Hawks, and Denver Nuggets forward Gallinari formed the national team's one-two scoring punch in last year's FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Turin, when Italy fell short to Croatia for a spot in the Rio Games.

Most other household names in Italian basketball - including Nicolo Melli, Daniel Hackett, Pietro Aradori and team captain Luigi Datome - are also featured in Messina's plans for the summer.

There are only two notable absentees from last year's side, with Andrea Bargnani deciding to take the summer off and Alessandro Gentile not making the cut after an up-and-down season. 

Although Italy's offensive arsenal will undoubtedly take a hit with the big-name duet out, the team may stand to benefit on the other end of the floor, with more defensive-minded replacements.

Among the interesting new faces on the squad is 27-year-old big man Paul Biligha, who will be aiming to replicate his breakout Serie A success on the international stage, while 20-year-old Trento up-and-comer Diego Flaccadori will look to impress the coaching staff for a place in Italy's backcourt.

Messina, who is set to leave the national team after FIBA EuroBasket 2017, will have five extra players on call in case of any last-minute adjustments or injury emergencies, with Christian Burns, Leonardo Candi, Simone Fontecchio, Antonio Ianuzzi and Davide Moretti rounding out the extended candidate list.

Italy will play in Group B of the tournament in Tel Aviv, where they will face Georgia, Germany, Lithuania, Ukraine and one of four tournament co-hosts, Israel.

FIBA