ALEPPO (Syria) - The fans of Al Ittihad Ahli Aleppo have gotten used to it by now. The sight of their star player, Mohamad Bilal Atli, jump out of the gym to either throw down a dunk or soar for a rebound.

"PLAYING FOR THE NATIONAL TEAM WOULD BE A HUGE HONOR FOR ME. IT'S SOMETHING THAT I'VE THOUGHT ABOUT A LOT, AND I WOULD BE THRILLED TO REPRESENT MY COUNTRY ON THE COURT."

He's done it to the tune of 17.0 points and 9.5 rebounds while also recording 2.0 assists, 1.2 steals, and 1.8 blocks per game in West Asia Super League (WASL) - West Asia. With four double-doubles and an average Efficiency Rating of 23.3 per contest for Al-Ittihad Ahli, Atli really is a special kind of athlete.

His athleticism, especially his hops, seems like it's something that runs in the family.

"Being the youngest brother of two professional volleyball players made me always drawn to sports and I loved playing with my friends," said Atli.

"As I got older, I started to take [basketball more seriously and began playing on organized teams and joined Al-Ittihad Ahli of Aleppo youth teams."

"There wasn't one specific moment that made me realize I wanted to play basketball at a serious level. It was more of a gradual process. I just loved playing the game and wanted to get better. As I started to improve, I realized that I had the potential to play at a higher level."

So just as he does on the court, Atli continued to rise up higher as he kept on playing. And with that came the opportunity to play in a foreign country - Germany.

The 29-year-old forward moved to Germany in 2015 and took the chance to play against the competition there. Most recently, he played for the ETB Miners in the 1.Regionaliga.

"I was excited for the opportunity to play in a new environment and challenge myself," he said.

"Playing in Germany was a great experience. The level of competition was high, and I learned a lot from playing with and against some of the best players in the league. The most valuable thing about playing in that environment was the opportunity to improve my skills and learn from experienced players and coaches. This experience helped me a lot when I came to play in Syria and in WASL."

That's something that stood out about Atli in learning about his story - he continuously emphasizes on the will to improve and develop. Maybe that is just something you pick up being born on New Year's Day, a day that many people reserve to make resolutions to better themselves.

"As a basketball player, I'm always looking to improve my skills and help my team succeed," said Atli who was born on the New Year's Day of 1995.

"I have some personal goals for this year, but my main focus is on helping my team win and advance in the competition."

He can check that off the to-do list for now as Al-Ittihad Ahli have advanced to the next phase of the WASL - West Asia season. They were able to secure two important wins over Al Naft and a lot of their success is due to the solid play of Atli.

"It's always great to hear that your hard work is paying off. I feel proud of my performance so far and I'm excited to continue to improve and help my team succeed," he said. "Our team's success is a result of our collective effort and dedication. We have a great group of players and coaches who work hard every day to achieve our goals. I'm proud of what we've accomplished so far and I'm looking forward to the next phase of the competition."

Atli doesn't hesitate to reflect the praise directed his way to his teammates and coaches, as he was also quick to show appreciation to another key part of their campaign.

"The fans of Al-Ittihad Ahli of Aleppo have been amazing this season. Their support has been a huge motivation for me and the team. It's always great to play in front of a passionate crowd, and I'm grateful for their support."

Those fans - and potentially scores more of Syrian basketball fans - will have the chance to pack up the stands once again when Syria plays their first game of the FIBA Asia Cup 20025 Qualifiers at home. Atli knows it will be special - as it always is.

"Playing in Damascus in the Al Fayhaa Stadium will be an amazing experience for Syrian players and fans, and I'm excited to be a part of it," he said.

The 2.03M (6'8") forward is hopeful to make a senior national team debut, especially considering his recent form in WASL. And when that opportunity comes, Atli will be ready.

"Playing for the national team would be a huge honor for me. It's something that I've thought about a lot, and I would be thrilled to represent my country on the court."

If he makes the squad for this first window, he'll have first-hand experience in knowing it will be a tough game as it will be Lebanon who are scheduled to travel to Damascus as the visiting team.

Atli has already played against Lebanese club Sagesse twice in WASL. Sagesse features the national team head coach Jad El Hajj as well as Marc Khoueiry and Omar Jamaleddine as players who might play in this upcoming Qualifiers clash.

"It’s always exciting to play against strong opponents, and Lebanon are definitely a tough team. I’m looking forward to the challenge and I know that our team will be ready to compete."

FIBA