Dante Calabria has forced his way into Italy's Eurobasket 2005 plans with his steady performances for Lega A runners-up Armani Jeans Milano.

National team coach Carlo Recalcati has confirmed that Calabria, a slick 1.95m shooting guard for Milano, is to be invited to Bormio on July 26 when Italy's top players gather to begin their preparations for the tournament in Serbia & Montenegro.

		“	Dante has shown that he has the right qualities that we need in the national team	„
		Carlo Recalcati

Recalcati said: "With the growth of (Alex) Righetti, who is already matured, and the possibility of using (Matteo) Soragna as a small forward, I no longer need (Nikola) Radulovic in that role.

"Calabria, however, can increase the potential of the guards, allowing us to take the pressure off (Gianluca) Basile who is our main offensive threat.

"Dante has experience and this year he has shown that he has the right qualities that we need in the national team."

Calabria said he is thrilled.

"To be honest with you, I just heard about that today," Calabria said to PA International. "A friend called to tell me about it.

"That had been talked about. It happened. I played before (with the national team), and it's definitely an honour. I want to make sure I'm healthy and can help them. I don't want to go and take someone else's place but not be able to play."

Calabria, 31, will only link up with Italy in July if the surgeon who operated on his ankle earlier in his career gives him the green light.

The player is returning to North Carolina, where he has a home at Wrightsville Beach, on Thursday with his wife and children.

"I had major surgery three years ago," Calabria said. "I didn't play for eight months. I got the surgery when leaving Valencia before I joined Benetton (Treviso), and it was a very frustrating time.

"Every year, I have the same guy check it out.

"It is something I was born with, and something that will be with me for the rest of my life.

"It's an honour, though. If I am able to come and help the team, I will go for sure. If I'm not able, I'm not going to go and take someone else's place."