Lewis and Jennings appointed as Great Britain under-20 head coaches

TIM Lewis and Damian Jennings have been appointed as head coaches of Great Britain under-20 men and women respectively.

Lewis - also head coach of British Basketball League side Essex Pirates - led the under-20 men to 13th at the European Championships B Division in Macedonia in July.

And Lewis - who is also one of Chris Finch's assistant coaches with the senior men's team - insists his number one priority is qualification to the A Division via a top two finish.

"I hope to build on the core of young players we selected last year," he said.

"I would like to think that we can stake a claim year in year out within the top four teams and ultimately qualify for the A division as the senior men have done.

"I look forward to working with British Basketball in developing a core of British based athletes that can be monitored, supervised and worked with throughout the year, whether they play at home or abroad.

"We have a group of the players coming back to the squad from last year's programme which will hopefully give us that edge that we are looking for.

"Some of those returning players were major contributors to the under-20's last summer and we will ultimately look to them for leadership and continuity." 

Jennings joins the under-20 programme after a spell as assistant coach of the senior women's team, where Tom Maher - who coached China to fourth at the Beijing Olympics - is now at the helm.

And Jennings insists the development of young players is integral to the future success of the senior side.

"I am really looking forward to linking my work with the senior programme with that of the under-20's," said Jennings.

"Having worked so closely with Tom Maher during the 2009 training camp, and particularly the World University Games, I saw first-hand the imprint needed at the under-20's to prepare them for life in senior GB basketball.

"My aspiration is to ensure they are as ready as possible once called upon.

"My role is one of creating readiness for senior basketball - creating clarity to junior GB players regarding the physical, mental, motor and emotional skills required to compete and produce at the highest international stage.

"For those of this age group the aspiration of representing their country at U20 competition should not be enough.

"Their commitment is a 365 day journey to goals that should be set on senior basketball and becoming the best, most rounded basketball player possible."