Poland's Marcin Gortat was the face of EuroBasket 2009 with the Orlando Magic center's image on billboards and magazine covers and television before, during and after the tournament.

Expect more of the same this summer for the Orlando man nicknamed ‘The Polish Hammer' in America because Gortat has confirmed he will represent Poland again this year when they attempt to make it to next year's EuroBasket in Lithuania.

Poland Basketball Federation president Roman Ludwiczuk travelled to the United States to meet with Gortat and has returned home with the good news.

"Marcin made a clear declaration that he will participate in the preparations for the qualifying games in August," Ludwiczuk said in the Sport newspaper in Poland.

"He said that he would be available to the new coach in July."

Poland have yet to name a new coach as a replacement for Muli Katzurin, but Ludwiczuk said he expects to have a new man in charge by the end of March.

The Poles will compete in Division A, Group C, against Belgium, Portugal, Georgia and Bulgaria.

Gortat, meanwhile, spoke recently about what it's like to be a basketball star in his homeland.

"Every year, we've got more kids that are trying to be like Marcin Gortat and make it to the NBA Finals, and just trying to get to the league," he said to NBA.com.

"I'm really happy that more people are  trying to play basketball. On the other hand, I'm happy that I can help make basketball more famous."

Gortat was interviewed by FIBAEurope.com in Lodz last summer and spoke about the good fortune he had to play basketball (review here).

It's something he repeated in his interview in America.

"I'm waking up every day and pinching myself and asking, ‘Is this really happening'?" he said.

He shed light on his family's sporting background.

"My dad was a boxer, my mom a volleyball champion," he said. "I've got the right blood running in my veins."

He also wanted to set the record straight for American basketball fans on another subject.

"I like the Polish Hammer and appreciate that, but I'm the Polish Machine," he said.

"That's the nickname from Day 1 since I started playing basketball because I move like a machine."