SEVILLA (FIBA Basketball World Cup) - Mario Hezonja is part of a much-hyped future of Croatian basketball. But the future is already now at the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup for the 19-year-old guard, who just wants to gain as much experience he can from Spain 2014.

"I just want to use my minutes the best I can. If I go in, I have to use those minutes the best I can and do my best," said Hezonja, who has already played at the world stage, leading his country to a third-place finish at the 2012 FIBA U17 World Championship.

"I've already been at this level with the youth teams. It's kind of the same organisation but of course it’s the highest level."

After not playing at all in Croatia's first two Group B games, Hezonja started their third game, against Senegal, and scored two points on a powerful slam and picked up one assist in the first 7:18 minutes of the game. Hezonja didn't play the rest of the game.

He earned some appearances for Barcelona's top team in the Liga Endesa and Euroleague last season and eventually convinced Croatia head coach Jasmin Repesa that he deserved a spot at Spain 2014.

The Dubrovnik native said it's already been very beneficial working alongside the likes of Croatian stars Ante Tomic, Roko Ukic, Krunoslav Simon and Bojan Bogdanovic.

"They are always by your side so you always learn a lot from them especially from Ante because he plays with me at Barcelona. I really enjoy being here and playing with them. I learn from them every day and every practice," said Hezonja. 

When asked what he learns from them, Hezonja said: "First of all to stay calm. You're the youngest and you're going to be on a big stage. Stay calm. At practice, from Ante I learn about his low-post game and passing, vision and everything. From Roko his experience. I learn from everybody really."

While Hezonja makes his senior national team debut, Dario Saric is playing his third summer for Croatia's main team - despite being just 20 years old.

Hezonja and Saric are two of a rash of high level young Croatian talents who many feel will carry the country to the podium for many years to come.

"Everybody's talking about the future of Croatia. Future, future and everything. But we need to stay down to earth and not to waste our moment because our moment is now. We just have to work hard and prepare ourselves mentally and physically for this level. Because this is the biggest stage and level in world basketball," said Hezonja.

And it's somewhere Hezonja will likely be playing for a long time to come.

FIBA