LONDON (EuroBasket Women 2015) - Great Britain have been left rocked by news that their kingpin Johannah Leedham will not be returning to the team for EuroBasket Women 2015.

Having shrugged off the absence of the Tango Bourges star during qualification last summer to seal a place at their third successive EuroBasket, they had been expecting to welcome the swingman back into the fold.
But along with Lauren-Thomas Johnson and the injured Kathryn Rendell, Leedham won't be stepping out in Hungary and Romania.

I wish the girls the very best and will be rooting for them to continue putting GB on the women's basketball map. - Leedham

"It is unfortunate that I can't join them, but I need to spend this summer focusing on my health which will require an element of rest," said the 27-year-old who dished out the highest number of assists per game at EuroBasket Women 2013.

"The team showed during the qualification process last year what they are capable of and I know they will all fight hard to continue what has been a proud and successful journey.

"I also look forward to pulling the GB vest back over my head in the future."

Despite the setback, head coach Peter Buckle remains excited at welcoming 19 players into his preparation camp next month.

I'm looking forward to getting started on court with our squad for 2015 and building upon what we achieved in 2014. - Buckle

"The new faces added to our senior programme should mix well with our established seniors, adding further depth to the GB programme," he said.

"We need to work hard to prepare for EuroBasket [Women] 2015, making the most of our time together and using the practice games to test ourselves.

"It is important that we use our preparation games firstly in France and then later in Spain, to prepare well for the Final Round.

"These warm-up games are essential to our programme."

Buckle will be boosted by the return of experienced Olympian Chantelle Handy and that will further strengthen a frontcourt which already boasts the likes of Azania Stewart and Temi Fagbenle.

There are also a number of places for established players who compete in the WBBL (Women's British Basketball League), including GB legend Stef Collins and also Steph Gandy, who was recently crowned the first-ever MVP of the newly-established league.

The candidate list also incorporates several players who have impressed at U20 level, including the likes of University of Toledo duo Janice Monakana and Jay-Anne Bravo-Harriott, along with Scotland's Hannah Peacock.

"There are only three players who aren't available through injury or fitness and we are very happy to be welcoming back Chantelle Handy in particular to last year's team," added National Teams Director, Warwick Cann.

"We have a balance to the squad which offsets the losses, plus we have a year's experience with our new nucleus - although losing Jo for a second year is obviously a blow because of her experience at the international level.

"It is important that we use this opportunity to integrate more younger players as we look to also build towards Tokyo 2020 as well as the obvious goal at hand."

Great Britain preliminary squad for EuroBasket Women 2015: Dominique Allen, Jay-Ann Bravo-Harriott, Ella Clark, Stef Collins, Temi Fagbenle, Stephanie Gandy, Chantelle Handy, Nicole How, Georgia Jones, Mrashi Karumba, Erin McGarrachan, Janice Monakana, Helen Naylor, Harriet Ottewill-Soulsby, Hannah Peacock, Chantelle Pressley, Eilidh Simpson, Azania Stewart, Rachael Vanderwal.

Go to eurobasketwomen2015.com for full coverage of EuroBasket Women 2015.

FIBA