Utah forward Simone Fontecchio will lead Italy’s 12-man roster for the upcoming 2023 FIBA World Cup.
Fontecchio will go up against his Jazz teammate and Gilas Pilipinas star Jordan Clarkson, as Italy finds itself grouped with the Philippines, Dominican Republic, and Angola in Pool A, set to compete at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The incoming NBA sophomore, who averaged a team-high of 19.2 points per game in the 2020 Summer Olympics, will be entrusted with leading Italy’s campaign alongside national team veteran Luigi Datome. Datome is the lone remaining player from the squad that secured the 10th position in the 2019 FIBA World Cup in China.
Former Dallas power forward Nicolò Melli, the 36th overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft Gabriele Procida (selected by Portland), and the 50th overall pick Matteo Spagnolo (chosen by Minnesota) are also part of the squad.
Marco Spissu, Mouhamet Diouf, Stefano Tonut, Alessandro Pajola, Achille Pollonara, Giampaolo Ricci, and Luca Severini complete the team, coached by Gianmarco Pozzecco.
Excluded from Italy’s initial 16-man pool are former Golden State standout Nico Mannion, Guglielmo Caruso, Riccardo Visconti, and Tomas Woldetensae.
Notably absent from the roster are Washington forward Danilo Gallinari, who is still recovering from an ACL tear in his left knee sustained during the World Cup qualifiers, and former San Antonio sharpshooter Marco Bellineli.
Italy will also miss reigning NBA Rookie of the Year Paolo Banchero, who opted to represent Team USA instead of Italy last July.
