TBILISI (Georgia) - Turkey's rising star Alperen Sengun is looking to make the most out his FIBA EuroBasket 2022 experience, as he continues to progress as one of Europe's brightest up-and-coming players.

Late in August he had to face his idol Nikola Jokic and Kristaps Porzingis in the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 European Qualifiers. And that was just the appetizer for the 20-year-old big man entering his first major tournament as a key cog in Ergin Ataman's system.

"THERE ARE SO MANY GOOD PLAYERS HERE. I'M SO EXCITED!"- Alperen Sengun

 
Does Sengun feel any pressure?

 "Actually, I do a little bit," he says earnestly. "It's because I'm younger. I had a good season last year and people want to see me playing well. Also, I'm playing for my national team of a big country. People want to see us playing successfully." 

But these nerves didn't show in his debut against Montenegro, as Sengun opened his EuroBasket tally with a vicious poster dunk.

Then again, he was only 18 when he became the Turkish League MVP for Besiktas. A season later he showed be belonged playing in the post against experienced big men in the NBA with the Houston Rockets.

And he did make his pro debut for Bandirma Kirmizi at the age of 16, so playing against older opponents is something Sengun is very much accustomed to.  

"This tournament is good for me, because next year I will be starting in the NBA," says Sengun. "It's good to learn some things before the NBA season."

It helps that to have some serious experience by his side. For the national team, Sengun shares the floor with 31-year-old veteran Sertac Sanli, with the two toggling between the power forward and center positions.

"In the national team I can play as a power forward. I don't know if I will do so in the future in the NBA. Now we have Jabari Smith. Maybe he can guard the five and I can guard the four. I can play whatever position the coach wants me to," says Sengun.

"Sanli is good from the outside. He can shoot, he can set good screens. And I can play inside a lot. We play well together. He's experienced, so he knows everything, tells me things and helps me."

Sanli himself describes it as a team effort where everybody is involved. "We help each other on and off the court. We need to do it all tournament long. Even on the off days and in the practices - we need to talk about everything."

The experienced center also likes the partnership. Sengun gets a lot of attention, which helps him get open, Sanli laughs.

The list of Sengun's mentors only starts there. Rockets fans were ecstatic when word got out about Sengun working with team legend Hakeem Olajuwon earlier this year. Sengun hopes to practice with Mr. Dream Shake again next season.

There's also Turkey national team legend Mehmet Okur, who is a part of coach Ergin Ataman's staff and keeps feeding Sengun useful tips during practice.

"And Hedo Turkoglu is our Federation's president," Sengun adds to the list. "We were together a lot this summer. I'm so lucky because Turkey has had such good players in the NBA. It helps me a lot. They also were young when they first went to the NBA. They tell me everything they know."

Now, it's up to Sengun to use that wisdom in his first major FIBA tournament for the national team. And if that doesn't excite you about Group A, then just take it from Sengun himself.

"Goga Bitadze was also playing well this season in Indiana," Sengun mentions another rising star when discussing his upcoming opponents. "There are so many good players here. I'm so excited!"

 FIBA