Sacramento Kings star Predrag Stojakovic has not been included in Zeljko Obradovic's preliminary 16-man Serbia & Montenegro squad to prepare for September's EuroBasket.

A total of seven players selected by Obradovic played last season in the NBA but Stojakovic is not on the list for the tournament in Belgrade.

Stojakovic was a member of the 2002 World Championship-winning side but missed last summer's Olympic Games in Athens because he was unable to join up with the squad in time for their preparations.

		Uros Tripkovic

"Of all the players that have wanted to be included only Peja Stojakovic is missing," said coach Obradovic.

"Why is he not on the list? You will have to ask him that."

However, former Atlanta Hawks center Zeljko Rebraca returns to the national scene after a five-year absence. Rebraca missed the Games in Athens due to a back injury.

Obradovic is also looking for future talent with veterans Dejan Bodiroga, Dejan Tomasevic and Rebraca set to retire from international duty after the EuroBasket.

New rising stars, 22-year-old point guard Bojan Popovic, 19-year-old shooting guard Uros Tripkovic and 20-year-old forward Darko Milicic have been included in the squad.

Serbia & Montenegro are looking to leave behind their disappointing performances in the 2003 EuroBasket and at the Olympics.

The two-time defending world champions finished next-to-last in the Athens Games and were knocked out of the 2003 EuroBasket in Sweden at the quarter-final stage.

"Our ambitions are very clear," said Obradovic. "We are only interested in the gold medal."

Serbia & Montenegro will face Spain, Latvia and the qualifying team in the first round of the tournament.

Squad: Vule Avdalovic (Pamesa Valencia), Bojan Popovic (Dynamo Moscow), Igor Rakocevic, Marko Jaric (both Los Angeles Clippers), Vlado Scepanovic, Dejan Tomacevic (both Panathinaikos), Uros Tripkovic (Partizan), Aleksandar Pavlovic (Charlotte Bobcats), Dejan Bodiroga (Lottomatica Roma), Vladimir Radmanovic, Milan Gurovic, Dejan Milojevic (all Partizan), Nenad Krstic (New Jersey Nets), Darko Milicic (Detroit Pistons), Zeljko Rebraca (Atlanta
Hawks), Predrag Drobnjak (free agent).