BEIRUT (Lebanon) -- By FIBA -- One of the best and most exciting players in Asia for the past several years, Lebanon's Wael Arakji, is poised to make his FIBA Basketball World Cup debut as well as several other veterans. The Cedars' 1.93m (6'4") point guard led the country to the FIBA Asia Cup 2022 Final in Jakarta and was named MVP of the tournament. Among his top performances was a 32-point effort against China in the Quarter-Finals. He averaged a team-high 26.0 points per game for the Lebanese.

Arakji is joined by several other leading players from that team: veteran center Ali Haidar, explosive guard Sergio El Darwich and power forward Hayk Gyokchian. Amir Saoud, the 32-year-old shooting guard who missed last summer's Asia Cup but played at the previous two editions, is in the squad. He featured in eight games in the Asian Qualifiers for the World Cup and excelled in several. He was especially good against other teams that clinched spots in the World Cup. In two games against the Philippines, Saoud averaged 22.0 points per game, and in one of the two games against Jordan, he poured in 24 points. In his one appearance against New Zealand, Saoud erupted for 28 points. In all, he was a solid 19 of 50 (38.0 percent) from behind the arc, and he made 22 of 24 (91.7 percent) of his free-throws.

Youssef Khayat, who was in the Asia Cup 2022 team, is in the squad after a freshman season with the Michigan Wolverines, where he appeared in nine games. Amir Saoud, who erupted for 28 points in the Asian Qualifier victory over New Zealand, is in the squad Another important member of the 2022 Asia Cup squad, power forward Jonathan Arledge, is not on the preliminary list but former late NBA first-round pick Omari Spellman is listed for a potential national team debut. Spellman spent the past two years with Korean team Anyang KGC.

The Cedars are making their first appearance at the World Cup since 2010 and their schedule in Jakarta could not be any harder. Lebanon were drawn in Group H with Canada, France and Latvia and will be heavy underdogs. However, with Arakji and impressive coach Jad El Hajj, anything is possible. Though the roster is completely different now for both teams, Lebanon defeated France at the 2006 World Cup. The last time Lebanon faced Canada at the World Cup, in 2010, the Cedars won that game as well, 81-71.