RIGA (2016 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournaments) - Latvia coach Ainars Bagatskis does not have a definitive word yet from Kristaps Porzingis on whether or not he will be available to play for the country at the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament (OQT) in Belgrade.

The New York Knicks rookie, however, knows that he is a wanted man after a terrific first year in the NBA. Bagatskis has included the 2.21m power forward/center in his 25-man preliminary squad. The ball, as they say, is in the player's court. It's a matter of wait and see.

Of course, I would be very interested to work with him and Porzingis's participation significantly changes the entire team. We are waiting for Kristaps's decision. I hope it will be positive... - Bagatskis

Porzingis was the fourth overall selection in last summer's NBA Draft by New York, yet few expected him to be the immediate hit that he turned out to be. The 20-year-old has been sensational. He has shown signs that soon enough, he won't just be an NBA player, or a star but rather a superstar.

Porzingis last featured for the national team at the 2013 U18 European Championship, played on home soil in Riga. He was named to the All-Star Five after averaging 11.6 points and 10 rebounds per game and helping the Latvians to a fourth-place finish.

His Knicks teammate, Spain guard Jose Calderon, gushed with praise for the young Latvian this week to FIBA.com.

"The thing that surprised most of the people is that he got used to the NBA's pace and way of playing so fast," Calderon said. "For the ones who knew him before, including myself, we always knew that he had a lot of talent and would be a great player, but maybe not that early in his NBA career."

It's incredible to have KP (Porzingis) on our team as he can have an impact on a lot of aspects of the game, offensively, defensively, and he can play in multiple positions on the court. It's incredible for a guy of his size to be able to play in so many different ways. - Calderon

It's not surprising, therefore, that Bagatskis has said that Latvia would tailor their style of play to the youngster when he is on the court to get the most out of his skill set. That is, of course, if he plays.

With Kristaps Porzingis, the top team will have one style of play," Bagatskis said in an interview on the Latvian Basketball Federation website. "Without him - something else."

But Bagatskis stressed that Latvia need to be realistic. Porzingis, a former player with Sevilla in Spain, has logged a lot of minutes in a lot of games this season.

"Behind him will be a very successful, but also very tiring first season in the NBA," the coach said. "Kristaps has surprised many and proved to be a very stable, high-end player."

Porzingis has given Latvians additional cause to travel to the Big Apple. Many a fan from the Baltic country has been seen in Madison Square Garden this season.

Even without Porzingis, Latvia confirmed their squad to be a talented one last summer at EuroBasket 2015. They defeated Slovenia in the Round of 16, a victory that ultimately got them a spot in the OQT.

Another youngster that Bagatskis has his eye on is 23-year-old Davis Bertans, a player that featured at EuroBasket 2011 in Lithuania while a teenager. Bertans has done well with Laboral Kutxa in Spain the past several weeks since coming back from a second serious knee injury.

He is in Bagatskis's preliminary group, along with veteran Armands Skele, who did not play for the national team last year but has plenty of international experience.

Armands Skele played for Latvia at EuroBasket 2013

The 32-year-old shooting guard has been a key man for Latvia high-fliers Valmiera/Ordo. He has, according to Bagatskis, "proved that again he is a real candidate for a place in the national side."

Ultimately, the coach said, 16 to 17 players will show up for the first day of practice at the training camp, on 2 June.

Latvia will need to win the OQT, which is to be staged 4-9 July, to clinch a place at the Rio de Janeiro Games. They will take on Japan and the Czech Republic in Group B and a top-two finish would put them in a Semi-Final against a team from Group A, either Serbia, Angola or Puerto Rico. The Semi-Final winners will play a game with the winner advancing to Rio de Janeiro.

Latvia preliminary squad for Belgrade OQT: Janis Strelnieks, Kaspars Vecvagars, Ingus Jakovics, Zanis Peiners, Aigars Skele, Davis Lejasmeiers, Dairis Bertans, Janis Blums, Armands Skele, Kristaps Gluditis, Kristaps Janicenoks, Janis Berzins, Martins Laksa, Janis Timma, Davis Bertans, Ojars Silins, Mareks Mejeris, Kristaps Porzingis, Rolands Smits, Kaspars Berzins, Rolands Freimanis, Martins Meiers, Ronalds Zakis, Anzejs Pasecniks and Ilja Gromovs.

FIBA