RIO DE JANEIRO (2015 FIBA Americas Championship) - Brazil will have plenty of experience and firepower for their Pan American Games challenge in Toronto this summer, but they will not be relying on their NBA heavyweights until the FIBA Americas Championship.

National team coach Ruben Magnano will take a very good squad of players in its own right to Canada for the event to be held from 21-25 July, one that includes experienced guards Raul Togni Neto, Rafa Luz and Larry Taylor.

Raulzinho, whose NBA draft rights are owned by the Utah Jazz, is coming off his best season in the Spanish Liga Endesa with Murcia.

The 23-year-old, who played at the 2010 FIBA Basketball World Cup and at the London Olympics, entered the campaign on a high after a dazzling performance at Spain 2014.

He was particularly good in the Round of 16 win over Argentina.

Luz, 23, another guard based in Spain, had another solid season in the Rio Natura Monbus Obradoiro backcourt.

Taylor, who made his senior team bow with Brazil at the 2012 Olympics, has enjoyed another big year with Bauru.

He is among three of the Bauru players in the Pan American Games squad to have captured the Liga Sudamericana and the FIBA Americas League titles this past season.

This a very strong team and some athletes may be called for the FIBA Americas Championship. - Magnano 

The other two Bauru players are point guard Ricardo Fischer and big man Rafael Hettsheimer.

Neto's Murcia teammate, Augusto Cesar de Lima Brito, is a player coming off his best season in Spain and is included.

The 23-year-old was a member of the Brazil team that finished second to hosts Argentina at the 2011 FIBA Americas Championship in Mar del Plata to qualify for the London Games.

A 24-year-old looking to impress is Mogi das Cruzes center Gerson do Espírito Santo Junior, a player who reached the Final of the Liga Sudamericana.

Leonardo Simoes Meindl, a 22-year-old on the books of Franca Basquet, is also getting his chance to make a mark with the senior team.

Meindl, who turned out for Brazil's youth sides, played for Brazil at last year's South American Championship. 

"We have formed a team that combines experienced and young players who will play for the first time in the adult team," Magnano said.

"The important thing is that we have a good amount of time to get ready for the competition."

Brazil lost all four of their games at the 2013 FIBA Americas Championship in Venezuela and needed a wild card to play at last year's FIBA Basketball World Cup.

The 2015 FIBA Americas Championship will be held in Mexico City, Mexico, from 31 August until 12 September.

Brazil Pan American Games squad: Rafael Freire Luz, Raul Togni Neto, Ricardo Fischer, Larry James Taylor Jr, Vitor Alves Benite, Leonardo Simoes Meindl, Marcus Vinicius Urban Toledo dos Reis, Carlos Alexandre Rodrigues do Nascimento "Olivinha", Rafael Hettsheimeir, Rafael Ferreira de Souza Gerson do Espirito Santo Junior and Augusto Cesar de Lima Brito.

Go to fiba.com/Americas2015 for full coverage of the 2015 FIBA Americas Championship.

FIBA