Koufos gives thumbs-down to Greece for this summer

Kostas Koufos (right) stays with the Jazz (Photo credit: FIBA)Photo Gallery>>If all of Athens had hoped to see seven-footer Kostas Koufos with their own eyes, they'll have to wait a while following the American-born player's decision to spend this summer with the Utah Jazz instead of playing at the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament.

Panagiotis Yannakis had included the MVP of last year's U18 European Championship in Madrid in his squad but Koufos, selected 23rd by the Jazz last week in the draft, will remain in the United States to prepare for his rookie season.

"For me, the priority's NBA," Koufos said in the Salt Lake Tribune.

"Always will be. Whatever the staff needs me to do to excel on the NBA level, I'm willing to do."

Had Koufos joined Yannakis' preliminary squad and made the team, he would have played in front of sold-out arenas in Athens where the Greeks will take on Brazil and Lebanon in Group A.

Three places are up for grabs for the Beijing Games.

(Credit: FIBA. Click here for further information.)