SAMSUN (FIBA U18 European Championship 2016) - Olle Lundqvist can be counted on to take a big shot and is always ready to make a teammate laugh. The guard also has enough upside to quite possibly lead him to the Sweden senior national team and beyond - as he’s showing at the FIBA U18 European Championship 2016.

Lundqvist paced Sweden with 15 points to go with 5 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 blocks in the team's opening Group A loss to Italy. The performance raised some eyebrows as Lundqvist only turned 17 years old just over three weeks ago. He also is just one month removed from a bout with mononucleosis that had him bed-ridden for two months.

"I am not at the level I should be, but I am getting there," Lundqvist admitted. "I'm getting tired pretty fast, but the coaching staff is great at getting me out for two minutes for a rest and then I am back in again."

And the 1.98m guard just loves being on the court.

"It's great to go out there and play against really good opponents. It's amazing and I am really thankful that I can play here and against this level," said Lundqvist, who is playing for Sweden’s youth ranks for the second time.

His first stint with Team Sverige provided his best basketball moment thus far. At the FIBA U16 European Championship Division B 2015 Lundqvist made two free throws with 18 seconds left to secure a 57-56 victory over Slovak Republic in the third place game, giving the Swedes promotion back to Division A.

Olle Lundqvist (No. 9) celebrated with his teammates after earning promotion to Division A at the FIBA U16 European Championship 2015 Division B. 

"No doubt number one," Lundqvist answered when asked where that game ranks in his still young career.

"I really didn't realise how big it was until one week later. I was still so hyped that we made it to Division A. But looking back, it's by far the best moment. Just the feeling that we as a team brought the country up to Division A. It's really big."

Lundqvist is not just a leader on the court but he is a leader off the court as well - or maybe it’s better said he is a ringmaster.

The Swedish federation gave Lundqvist and his backcourt mate Felix Lemetti the password to its Instagram account and needless to say, the Swedes are having fun off the court at the FIBA U18 European Championship.

Besides helping produce a Titanic re-enactment, Lundqvist also can be seen interviewing teammate Ludde Johannson.

"Our team is a really fun team. Everybody is involved and we all joke around. The guys are awesome," Lundqvist said.

He is also all smiles when he talks about his favourite play on the court: "I really like coming off the screen and giving it up to the big guy and he dunks it hard and then I run back and point at him. That's the best feeling in the world."

That's not to say that Lundqvist doesn’t mean business when he’s one the court. And he was looking forward to measuring himself against the best on the continent at this tournament.

"I'm pretty self-confident and I think I can play against these guys. I'm not scared about going up against bigger and taller players. I don't care who the opponents are," he said. "I don't say I am one of the best players here but I am trying to get there."

Lundqvist started playing basketball when he was 5 years old - "I really didn't have any other choice."

His father, mother and sister all are involved in the game and have played at national team level. And Lundqvist’s home city Ostersund in northern Sweden is actually a basketball hotbed - a perfect environment for a kid looking to work on his game.

"I'm pretty self-confident and I think I can play against these guys. I'm not scared about going up against bigger and taller players. I don't care who the opponents are. I don't say I am one of the best players here but I am trying to get there." - Lundqvist

"Basketball is a lifestyle in Ostersund. We have basketball courts all over the place. I have keys to like six or seven gyms I could go whenever I want. So it’s perfect," said Lundqvist, who is coached by his father Mats and has already played in games in Sweden's top flight Basketligan with Jamtland.

The Swedish federation definitely has high hopes for Lundqvist.

"We really believe he has great upside. It's a combination of character and skills and even some size to be a backcourt player," Swedish national teams director Per Kallman said. "He's the next guy for us. He's a late 17-year-old so it's hard to judge. He will mature physically and when that happens he will really skyrocket."

This taste of the competition level will also help Lundqvist next summer at the FIBA U18 European Championship - should Sweden manage to stay in Division A.

"I think he will be one of the better players at U18 next year," Kallman added.

When Lundqvist gets more chances to hit big shots and be a ringmaster … ah … a team leader.

FIBA