ISTANBUL (FIBA EuroBasket 2017) - Cedi Osman is only 21 years old but he's already played in plenty of big games for Turkey.

At the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup, Osman helped his country reach the Quarter-Finals. He had some big moments, including in a win over Finland.

He played at last year's EuroBasket in Germany and helped Turkey reach the Round of 16 while this year, he was carrying an injury but still played as the Turks reached the Semi-Finals of the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament (OQT) in Manila. Turkey fell to eventual OQT winners France.

Next year there is additional incentive to have success because for the first time since 2010, when Turkey hosted the FIBA Basketball World Cup and reached the Final, the national team will play at home as one of the four host countries for FIBA EuroBasket 2017. The Final Round will be in Istanbul.

"We are already over that (OQT setback) and we have to concentrate on the 2017 EuroBasket," Osman said in his blog for Eurohoops.net. "The final stage will be held in Istanbul and this is going to be a really big test for us. We want to win a medal in front of our fans. Every one will be watching us and it's a really big chance."

The last time Turkey played on home soil as EuroBasket hosts was in 2001 and they beat a Dirk Nowitzki-led Germany in an exciting Semi-Final before falling in the title game to Yugoslavia. That Turkish team had Hedo Turkoglu as its biggest star.

Now there are different players and young stars like Osman.

Furkan Korkmaz is one of Turkey's up-and-coming stars

"The younger generation of players – me, Furkan Korkmaz, and the rest of the guys – we are entering the senior team roster and we are trying really hard to do our best," Osman said.

"One day, it will be all about the 1995-96 generation. We had a great couple of years in the FIBA junior tournaments, we have won many medals and we hope that we will do the same as men when we play together.

Osman was in the Turkey sides that finished top of the podium at the 2013 U18 European Championship and the 2014 U20 European Championship.

"I hope that we will have the same success in a couple of years," he said. "Of course we also want to win this summer. Why not?

"We have great young players, we have energy and the help of experienced guys like Sinan Guler, Semih Erden and now Bobby Dixon. In front of our fans, we can achieve big things!"

FIBA