Bosnia and Herzegovina are desperate to have Goran Suton represent the senior national team just as he did as a youngster but the big man is also wanted by Croatia.

Suton, who hails from the Sarajevo area, led the Michigan State Spartans into last weekend's NCAA Final where they were upended by the University of North Carolina.

Mensur Bajramovic, the Bosnia and Herzegovina coach, is looking to bolster the national squad ahead of the Additional Qualifying Round for this year's EuroBasket in Poland.

"I called Suton to last year's preparation camp," Bajramovic said.

"He replied that, due to his student obligations, he couldn't answer my call but he also confirmed that there wouldn't be any problems in 2009.

"And that's good news, since he is both a very good player and a healthy person in all aspects."

Bajramovic did not expect, however, Croatia to approach Suton and should he decided to play for Repesa, that could see him take part in the Final Round as the Croatians have already qualified.

"We'll do whatever it takes to have Suton in our national team, despite that fact we could have difficulties due to similar interests of Croatian basketball authorities," Bajramovic said.

"We've been informed by the Croatian Basketball Association that, allegedly, they didn't know that Suton is on our list of potential national team players," Nihad Imamovic, the vice president of Basketball Association of Bosnia and Herzegovina, said.

"We'll speak again with Goran, but the final decision on who he wants to play for - is on him."

If Bosnia and Herzegovina finish first ahead of Belgium and Portugal in Group A of the AQR and then beat the winner of Group B (Italy, France or Finland) in a two-legged tie, they will claim the last spot on offer for the Final Round in Poland.

The 23-year-old Suton averaged 10.1 points, 8.2 rebounds and 1.5 assists as a senior at Michigan State.