SASSARI (Italy) - It has taken Xavier Cooks no time at all to assert himself as an impact-maker in Europe, emerging as a breakout star for German outfit s.Oliver Wurzburg in the FIBA Europe Cup.

Playing his first professional season in a town best known for producing NBA legend Dirk Nowitzki, the 23-year-old forward from Australia may not be a household name yet, but his play has certainly caught the attention of the Old Continent.

A two-way player with a unique set of skills, Cooks averaged 11.8 points, 5.3 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 1.0 steal and 0.9 blocks per game to help the Denis Wucherer-coached side into the club's maiden Finals appearance in international play.

Following the first leg of the Finals in Sardinia, FIBA.basketball spoke with the up-and-coming Australian player about his first season as a professional, the historic FIBA Europe Cup campaign for Wurzburg as well as his dream of suiting up for the Boomers.

It was nothing short of a crazy game with you coming up short against Dinamo (89-84) down the stretch. What do you think was the deciding factor in Sassari?

I think a big thing for them was the crowd. Basketball is a game of runs. Every time we went on a run, it was quiet. When they went on a run, they could ride the energy and the crowd, and that really helps out. It gets loud here on free throws… They have great energy in this crowd. Also, [Rashawn] Thomas, he really hurt us inside and outside. We need to do a better job on him, I personally have to do a better job on him and we just have to rely on each other a little bit better.

What will you need from your own fans in the return fixture to now pull back that five-point deficit?

To be honest, I'm not even worried about that. They traveled to the last two games. They're going to bring it, they bring crazy energy. At times, when we are a little bit slow on energy, they're always there to help us out and give us that boost. They're doing a great job and we don't thank them enough for how great they are.

On a broader note, how's your rookie season going? You probably couldn't have expected it to go any better than it has…

I'm a confident guy. In my head I could've averaged 30… (laughs) No, I'm just playing. But it's been going really well. My teammates have a lot of confidence in me. It's a great environment to play around. It's going well. I always knew I was a good player, but I originally struggled with the physicality of the league. It's quick turnarounds: Saturday-Wednesday, Saturday-Wednesday - my body wasn't used to that. But I actually love it, no practice. (laughs)

The physicality that you mentioned, was that the biggest adjustment to you, coming from the NCAA to Europe?

Definitely the physicality. In college, they love to call everything. In the post, they take 10 charges a game. That's why I was called for that technical foul for the flop [in the first leg]. It's just the physicality, rebounding - it's a war down there. I'm just not used to do all those pushes in the backs and I'm obviously not the heaviest guy in the world, so I have to try and fight more with my feet.

"I HAVE NEVER PLAYED ON A TEAM THAT GETS ALONG AS WELL AS THESE GUYS IN WURZBURG."- Xavier Cooks

People praise you for being able to guard multiple positions and also having a lot of versatility on offense. What do you think are your best qualities on the court?

Versatility has always been my main strength, playing that inside-outside kind of game, being able to switch on on-balls. People run their entire offense through on-ball screens and off-ball screens and we can switch to take it away. And that's huge. That's one of my best qualities, I can also bring energy at times, but I think it has to be switching defensively.

Is there a player who you model your game around, who you like to watch? You're kind of a unique guy in terms of your skill set…

It's tough, because I'm not great at anything, but I'm just good at everything, so it's tough [to pick someone out]. In the NBA, they play a lot of one-on-one, solo basketball and that's not really my forte. I don't like one-on-one basketball, I think it's a bit selfish. In Australia, we didn't grow up watching a whole bunch of European basketball, so it's a tough question to answer. But I would say someone like Nicolas Batum, who just loves to get everyone involved, makes the right read and is just a smart player.

What's your relationship with coach Denis Wucherer and the rest of the coaching staff and how have they helped you evolve?

It's been great, unbelievable. Sometimes there are moments where I doubt myself and they do a great job of just boosting me up to tell me to play through mistakes. I'm a bit of a mental nutcase sometimes - I miss a couple of shots and I get down on myself and they're always boosting me up. My game style is very different, so it's harder to coach that. I have to have a lot of freedom to be able to push the ball, use on-ball screens or be a screener myself, so they're doing a great job of letting me play the game I want to play and the game that my game is.

Everyone keeps saying you've got a really close-knit group in Wurzburg. Would you say that this has been a major part of you going so far in the FIBA Europe Cup?

For sure, a 100 percent. I knew straight away when we got here that we had a great bunch of guys. I have never played on a team that gets along as well as these guys in Wurzburg. That's great on the court. Like I said before, basketball is a game of runs and when we are at our down-points, we're sticking together because we're a team, such a close-knit group of guys. It's great, it's really been great.

What would it mean for you, already in your rookie season, to have a chance to win a trophy in a European club competition?

That would be huge. We dedicated the last six or seven months to this, so it would be great. We have worked so hard for this, we traveled to so many places for this. It's a big deal for us. It may not be the top-tier competition in Europe, but to us - it is.

Is there a moment that's really stuck with you during your rookie campaign? Either traveling somewhere in Europe or just hanging around with the guys in Wurzburg?

I can't think of one in particular, but I had never been to Europe - I never thought I'd be going to all these cool countries and environments like this [in Sassari]. It's a totally different ball game over here. The crowds here are so passionate.

Probably the biggest thing that will stick with me was when we were playing [against Pinar Karsiyaka] in Turkey. The crowd was so hostile and partisan - and it was great, we play basketball for those kind of moments. The game went to overtime and we ended up winning. It was the environment that was unbelievable to me.

Is that what you like most about European basketball?

The passion. Every time you feel like there's going to be a fight in the crowd, almost. It's just the hostility, on the road it feels like it's you against the world. It's a great feeling, especially when you come out on top. But it's definitely the atmosphere and the games.

If you don't mind me asking, what's your contract situation right now?

I'm on a one-year deal [with Wurzburg], so I don't know what happens after that. I love Wurzburg, I love the environment, I love the crowd, I love the city, but I'm on a one-year deal.

"IF I EVER GET THE [BOOMERS] CALL-UP, I WOULD LOVE TO GO."- Xavier Cooks

Have you been in touch with Basketball Australia about possibly representing the Boomers?

I have, I have. Normally, in the summers I would play Australian university team or the Emerging Boomers. And this year during the break, they asked me to play in the Qualifiers for the World Cup, but I had stuff going on and personal issues, so I couldn't do it. I'm definitely in touch with them. Australia has got a real strong basketball team right now, a lot of NBA players - it's going to be tough, but I'm going to keep trying my hardest.

With the World Cup in China this year, what would it mean for you to play there and what are your thoughts about whether you can make the squad, given Australia's talent pool?

Whenever you represent your country, it's probably the biggest deal. When you get to wear Australia across your chest, it's a huge deal. If I ever get the call-up, I would love to go. It would be a huge honor for me, literally unbelievable. And you are right, we have a really deep roster right now: the NBL have a bunch of players in Europe, the NBA. It will be tough, but if I get the chance, I'm going to fight my hardest and do the best that I can do.

FIBA