CHEKHOV/VIDNOE (2015 FIBA U19 Women's World Championship) - The exciting Laura Westerik has wasted little time in emphasising why she is rated as one of the best prospects of her generation in Europe.

Still only 16 years old, she announced her arrival at the 2015 FIBA U19 Women's World Championship by making an immediate splash on her global debut with a standout 21 points for Netherlands in an opening day success against Argentina.

Yet the talented Westerik was quick to play down her own contribution and emphasised how it was playing with her more experienced team-mates that gave her the greatest thrill.

"It's a really big step to play with Laura [Cornelius] and Emese [Hof]," she said.

It is an actually a real honour for me to play alongside them. - Westerik

"As for my own performance, I just wanted to give everything I had and I will see how it goes as it is only early."

Westerik was sensational in last year's U16 European Championship Women Division B.

She scored in double digits in all seven games, pouring in an average of almost 18 points per game to carry her country to promotion to Division A for this summer - sealing a coveted spot on the All-Star Five for good measure.

This is the first time that she has come across styles other than European at a major tournament and Westerik was intrigued by her initiation to the tournament against Argentina - although also keen to emphasise that Netherlands are concentrating on their own business.

We have to focus on what we do well and not look at what our opponents are doing too much. - Westerik

"They played much more physically and with much more tempo than most European teams," she said.

"But I think that it is important that we play our own game.

"We also like to run with the ball at times, but against some teams who push hard like Argentina, we play more pick and rolls and set plays.

"I think that we have to try to go to the Last Eight of the competition and we see what happens from there," added the 1.76m guard.

She also helped Netherlands collect a second win against Chinese Taipei as she knocked down a big baseline jumper during crunch time.

That will have given her additional satisfaction as it was an essential sub-plot to the headline and sensational contributions from Cornelius and Hof - the kind of stars and leaders she looks up to so much.

And also the kind of players whose footsteps she is already beginning to follow.

On Tuesday, Netherlands will play hosts Russia for top spot in Group A.

FIBA