MIAMI (United States) - With little room separating all four teams in Group A of the FIBA AmeriCup Qualifiers, Chile are seeking a piece that could put them over the hump and stun Argentina and Co.

Enter Nico Carvacho, a 23-year-old current member of Rilski Sportist in Bulgaria and former Colorado State star who says he wants to "shock the world and help put Chile on the map."

Carvacho did not participate in the club’s first window of the Qualifiers – a split vs. Colombia back in February – as he was completing his four-year stint with the Rams. However, the talented big man has the credentials and skills to drastically help improve the roster.

The 2.10m forward/center redshirted during his first year in Fort Collins, but later morphed into one of Colorado State’s top players with his sheer force on the glass and efforts on defense. He averaged an absurd 16.1 points and 12.9 rebounds per game in his junior campaign, while earning first-team All-Mountain West honors and becoming the NCAA's season leader in boards.

Carvacho wasn't finished earning accolades, though, as he became the Mountain West Conference's all-time leading rebounder in his final year on campus and earned a second-team all-conference award.

"The key to my success is to just play hard, score the ball, rebound, play defense and make the right plays," Carvacho said. "This is my first time since 2016 that I will be fully healthy and ready to play, so I want to go in there and compete and try to get some wins."

Before arriving at Colorado State, Carvacho had his eyes set on a different sport, as he was born into a soccer family with his father Eddie coaching at numerous different levels. He later moved to his father's native country of Chile at 15 years old to pursue the game.

"I grew up loving every sport honestly, but soccer was my first love," Carvacho said. "I was always around it with my dad being a youth, college and professional coach."

While soccer helped Carvacho with his footwork and hand-eye coordination, he later decided to return to the United States to pursue hoops. It turned out to be the right choice as his successful collegiate stint ushered him into an opportunity in Europe that he hopes eventually will propel him to his ultimate goal of the NBA.

"My dream since I was a little kid playing in my backyard was to go to the highest level," Carvacho explained when asked about the future of his career. "I want to become the first Chilean men’s basketball player ever to make it to the NBA."

First, the big man will have to use his combination of experience and size on a Chile roster that is lacking the latter. His presence will be critical in the club's two games against nations that are much higher ranked in Argentina on Nov. 27 and Venezuela, who leads the qualifiers in rebounds, on Nov. 28.

If Carvacho can bring his efficiency around the rim offensively, his tenacity on the glass and successful positioning defensively, Chile could prove to be one of the biggest surprises in advance of the 2022 FIBA AmeriCup.

FIBA