ANKARA (FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 European Qualifiers) - Turkey will be looking for Furkan Korkmaz to be their game-changer again in Ankara on Friday night against Montenegro in a crucial FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 European Qualifiers clash for both teams.

Just as he did for Banvit in the first season of the Basketball Champions League and then with Turkey at FIBA EuroBasket 2017 in Istanbul, in the difficult moments, Korkmaz wreaked havoc with his athleticism and his deadly shooting from behind the arc in Turkey's wins over Ukraine and Sweden at the end of the First Round, results that have allowed the team to enter Group I play with a 4-2 record.

The 6ft 7in (2.01m) guard enters the Second Round with the highest efficiency rating, 22.5, of any Turkish player in the Qualifiers. It's even better than that of fellow sensation Cedi Osman (21.0).

How has Korkmaz, who is just 21 years of age, developed so quickly into an impactful player, especially with his pin-point accuracy from deep? He puts in the hours!

"I work on shooting a lot during my training," he said. "I always have shooting practice before and after the (team) training. It's important for me to make my strengths even stronger. You need to be the best if you are at this level. I'm aware of that. I focus on strengthening my better abilities and later focus on what I am lacking. What I do best is shooting."

"THE SUMMER HAS BEEN VERY IMPORTANT FOR ME BECAUSE I DIDN'T HAVE A LOT OF CHANCES DURING THE SEASON. IT WAS CRUCIAL TO SHOW MY GAME AND WHAT I LEARNED DURING THE SEASON. THE NATIONAL TEAM GAMES PREPARED ME FOR THE SUMMER LEAGUE. I AM VERY HAPPY THAT IT WENT WELL FOR ME."- Korkmaz

In the third window, Korkmaz was about as good as it gets from long range, drilling 7 of his 9 attempts. That skill, along with his ability to get to the rim, his energy on defense and his overall versatility make him an indispensable player for coach Ufuk Sarica.

"Sometimes we play in different positions in the game," he said. "Every player has different abilities and we show that from time to time during the games. I use the advantage of being an athletic player.

"I play help defense sometimes as I understand the opponent’s play. I know where to stand and where to jump to the ball. Basketball is getting better for me by gaining experience."

Kormaz does many things well, including excelling in the open floor

Korkmaz is coming off one of the most challenging, and interesting years of his life. As a rookie with the Philadelphia 76ers, he had to make adjustments on the court and also off it.

"It was very difficult for me in the USA in the first two months," said the member of the NBA's Philadelphia 76ers. "After that, I got used to it. Of course, I knew there would be an adaptation process and it took two months for me. Then, I got used to basketball as well as the life, the culture and the people there."

He had to overcome a foot injury that he suffered in December, one that left him unable to walk for six weeks. After that setback, though, Korkmaz got back into shape, learned a lot in practice and had multiple assignments to the Delaware 76ers in the G-League.

"THERE WAS A GREAT ATMOSPHERE IN ANKARA IN OUR LAST TWO GAMES. THEY SUPPORT US EVERY TIME AND THEY KNOW BASKETBALL VERY WELL. THEY MAKE US HAVE THE NATIONAL TEAM FEELING THERE."- Korkmaz

After playing exceptionally well for Turkey in the third window, Korkmaz immediately returned to the States and joined the Sixers team playing in the Las Vegas Summer League.

In his very first game, he poured in 40 points. The confidence gained while playing for his country clearly helped him in the States.

"The summer has been very important for me because I didn't have a lot of chances during the season," he said. "It was crucial to show my game and what I learned during the season.  The national team games prepared me for the Summer League. I am very happy that it went well for me."

Turkey will again be looking to benefit from the presence of Korkmaz. They will take on a Montenegro side that won both of its games in third window. Slovenia, the EuroBasket 2017 champions, will also be tough customers. They are licking their wounds after winning just two of their six games in the First Round. They will host Turkey on Monday.

"Both Montenegro and Slovenia are basketball countries," Korkmaz said. "However, I always say that what we do is more important than what our opponent will do.

"We have players that have different abilities. I think the game against Slovenia will be tougher. We are going to play an away game and they are the last European champions.

"These two games are very important for us in terms of having a better mindset for the coming ones. We (himself and Cedi Osman) cannot be with the team during the season, unfortunately. I hope we will win these games to have a good start for the Second Round of the Qualifiers."

Korkmaz is excited about returning to Ankara, where the Turks got those key wins over Ukraine and Sweden in the third window.

"There was a great atmosphere in Ankara in our last two games," he said. "They support us every time and they know basketball very well. They make us have the national team feeling there.

"This is the biggest stage for us and the support of the fans makes us stronger, pushing us one big step ahead."

FIBA