ATHENS (FIBA U20 European Championship 2017) - Greece's preliminary squad for the FIBA U20 European Championship 2017 at home features the core group of players who won the title at the FIBA U18 European Championship 2015 including stars Giorgios Papagiannis and Vasileios Charalampopoulos, as well as Kostas Antetokounmpo.

That 1997 and 1998-born generation finally came through after so many tough losses with a title in 2015 in Volos, when Papagiannis, Charalampopoulos and Co. ended Turkey's hopes of an U18 three-peat for their first U18 continental crown since 2008.

In addition to the duo of All-Star Five selections Papagiannis and Charalampopoulos, also back in the mix for the U20 tournament from the U18 champions are Iakovos Alifieris, Vasileos Christidis, Nikos Diplaros, Dimitrios Flionis, Michail Lountzis, Vasileios Mouratos and Dionysis Skoulidas.

Charalampopoulos and the 1997 generation core finished third at the FIBA U16 European Championship 2013 and then took fourth place at the FIBA U18 European Championship 2014 and the FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup 2015. The group finally won in the Semi-Finals at the FIBA U18 European Championship 2015 and took the crown as well.

The 18-man preliminary squad for the championship from 15-23 July also features Kostas Antetokounmpo, the 19-year-old younger brother of NBA star Giannis Antetokounmpo and who is playing with the University of Dayton in the US collegiate system.

Two other prominent names in the mix are Ioannis Agravanis, the younger brother of Dimitrios Agravanis; and Antonios Koniaris, who played at the FIBA U18 European Championship 2014 and FIBA U17 Basketball World Cup 2014.The group of Charalampopoulos, Diplaros, Lountzis, Mouratos and Skoulidas etched a spot in the hearts of Greek fans forever last summer. A year after being at the summit of European basketball with the U18 title, that quintet answered the call of duty and played in Division B at U20 level and finished third at the FIBA U20 European Championship 2016, Division B at home in Chalkida to earn promotion back to Division A.

Greece will be hosting the U20 tournament in Crete and will face Germany, Sweden and Czech Republic in Group A. Coach Ilias Papatheodorou will start his first training camp on 12 June in Chania and will hold another camp in Heraklion on Crete.Greece will be hosting the FIBA U20 European Championship for the fourth time and third time since 2009 - when they won the U20 crown in Rhodes and Ialysos. Greece's last Semi-Finals appearance was in 2010 when they finished second.

Greece will play warm-up games in Germany on 23-24 June and take part in a tournament in Italy with Italy, Ukraine and Israel from 30 June-2 July. There is also a tournament in Chania and Rethymno planned for 10-12 July with Spain, Italy and Iceland. 

FIBA