GB completed their training tour on Friday with a win in Estonia thanks to a box score-stuffing performance from 6’6” forward Akwasi Yeboah.

GB are set to ramp up their preparations for the highly anticipated 2025 EuroBasket, with their opening match of the EuroBasket against Lithuania right around the corner.

Head Coach Marc Steutel named an exciting training roster for the prep tour, which saw his side travel to France, Belgium, Slovenia, and Estonia.

Over their five matches, Coach Steutel had the opportunity to assess the level of his squad ahead of their opening match of Group B on Wednesday, 27 August, and to get the players firing as a unit.

GB began the tour against France in Pau on 8 August.

Coach Steutel’s men faced a star-studded side, with NBA talent.

Both the number one and number two picks in the 2024 NBA draft, Zaccharie Risacher and Alexandre Sarr, featured for Les Bleus, with the former scoring 12 points and collecting six rebounds in just 14 minutes of action.

Mouhammadou Jaiteh of Dubai Basketball matched Risacher’s effort with 12 points, making five of his nine attempts, whilst New York Knicks forward Guerschon Yabusele scored 11, making two threes.

GB started well, with Akwasi Yeboah steering the offensive effort. He notched 11 points in his 20 minutes of action.

Captain Carl Wheatle struggled from the field, but conducted his team well, dominating the glass and taking the toughest defensive assignments.

Jubrile Belo-Osagie, the 6’9” centre currently signed with Falco Vulcano Energia KC Szombathely in Hungary, produced a stellar performance, scoring 11 points and defending well in space.

GB pushed France all the way, but ultimately fell to a highly talented side, tipped to reach the latter stages, if not win, the EuroBasket next week.

Final Score: FRA 74 / GBR 67

GB next travelled to Ostend, Belgium, to play the second game of their prep tour.

Centre Ismael Bako of Paris Basketball was in the middle of everything to start this one. After winning the tip, he quickly attacked the paint, finding success in the interior and catapulting Belgium to an early eight-point lead.

GB battled back with a three from Luke Nelson and some nice transition play from Wheatle, but Emmanuel Lecomte’s effort towards the end of the first quarter kept Belgium ahead 26-16 going into the break.

After a clunky start to the second quarter, Luke Nelson was fouled on a three-point attempt. He made all three shots from the charity stripe, catalysing a GB comeback.

Some intense defensive pressure from Wheatle and veteran Myles Hesson saw the latter force the turnover, allowing Hesson to run out for a fastbreak dunk.

A couple of Tobi Lawal dunks and an Akwasi three later, and GB were in touching distance.

London Lions star Amin Adamu secured two challenging layups to give GB a one-point lead going into the half.

Unfortunately for GB, the second half would see the Belgian Lions dominate, ultimately seizing a 12-point victory.

Lecomte continued his fine shooting form, scoring 18 points in the game and providing three assists and rebounds.

Bako produced an equally impressive performance, listing 14 points, five rebounds, and two blocks.

For GB, Belo led the way with 15 points and four rebounds, whilst Myles’s three three-pointers and Nelson’s six assists were not enough to overcome Belgium’s physical style.

Final Score: BEL 84 / GBR 72

GB stayed in Ostend, Belgium to play Bosnia, a day after their gruelling match against Belgium.

Whilst this provided an opportunity for Coach Steutel’s side to test themselves on the second night of a back-to-back, simulating the rigours of tournament basketball, Bosnia arrived at an advantage.

GB performed well given the circumstances, with players such as Jelani Watson Gayle and Noah Horchler getting extended minutes and opportunities.

Adamu and Hesson led the nation in scoring with 12 points apiece, whilst Akwasi impressed yet again with 11 points and two rebounds.

Bosnia were lifted by elite-level centre Jusuf Nurkic, now of the Utah Jazz, who put up 24 points, seven rebounds, and three assists.

Amar Gegic also dominated, scoring 16 points and collecting three rebounds and three assists, helping his country to victory by a wide margin.

Final Score: GBR 73 / BOS 103

Next up for GB: Luka Doncic’s Slovenia.

Facing Slovenia in Ljubljana was always going to prove a stiff challenge, especially with five-time All-NBA First Team superstar Doncic on the floor.

GB performed well, with Belo-Osagie, now injected into the starting five, producing another steady performance with nine points, seven rebounds, two blocks and two steals.

Carl Wheatle made all three of his shots, scoring 11 in total whilst showing off his signature defensive pressure, and collecting two steals for his troubles.

Hesson led GB in the score chart with 12 points, matched by Tarik Philip with 12 points, four rebounds, and three assists in an all-around showing.

Pat Whelan had a strong game for GB off the bench, adding 11 points in limited minutes.

Nevertheless, GB suffered the wrath of a focused Luka Doncic, who racked up 20 points in the first quarter alone.

His 28-point, six-rebound, ten-assist, three-rebound showcase in just over a half of basketball buoyed his side to a hefty lead, which GB was unable to overcome even after the dynamic guard limped off the court early in the third quarter.

Slovenia executed professionally after they lost their talisman, with Gregor Hrovat’s 15 points, three rebounds, and three assists proving pivotal in their efforts to see out the match.

Final Score: SVN 93 / GBR 81

GB rounded out their preparations with a fantastic display in Tallinn, Estonia.

Having battled against a host of quality sides over the last couple of weeks, GB arrived to face yet another stiff challenge in Estonia.

Led by 6’9” power forward Matthias Tass, Estonia produced a strong offensive effort, with Tass scoring 15 points and grabbing nine rebounds for his side.

Head Coach Heiko Rannula employed a tall and physical lineup, emphasising dominance in rebounding and in the paint. Henri Drell helped support this tactical direction, with the 6’9” small forward claiming 13 points and six rebounds.

Nevertheless, GB’s Akwasi Yeboah was everywhere, scoring 18 points, snatching nine rebounds, and dishing five assists.

He led the way for GB in every major statistic, whilst Carl Wheatle’s strong defensive showing, highlighted by his four steals, drove GB’s efforts on the other side of the ball.

GB’s two-way display ultimately overwhelmed Estonia, who could not get going from the perimeter.

Final Score: EST 62 / GBR 72

You can stream GB’s opening match against Lithuania live on Courtside 1891 at 11:30 am (BST) on Wednesday, 27 August.