ZARAGOZA (2016 FIBA U17 World Championship) - It seems symbolic that Miguel Gonzalez started playing basketball in 2006. That was the year that Spain won the FIBA Basketball World Cup in Japan. And the 17-year-old guard is considered one of the top young players who could soon move into the senior national team. 

"My first year of playing basketball was 2006 when Spain won the World Cup," recalled Gonzalez, one of Spain's leaders at the 2016 FIBA U17 World Championship.

The 2.01m guard was averaging 19.5 points, 3.0 rebounds, 2.0 steals and 1.5 assists in the first two games in Zaragoza before going down in the first minute of his team's final Group Stage game against Argentina. And it was clear how important the Valladolid native is to the Spanish side as they struggled against the winless Argentineans. Gonzalez returned briefly for Spain's comfortable Round of 16 win over Chinese Taipei and should be fit to play in the Quarter-Finals against Australia.

Playing for his homeland after all means so much to Gonzalez. 

"To play for my country is an honour for me. The only thing I want is to win all the games and do my best," Gonzalez said. 

That willingness to fight for Spain also comes from the long years of dedication that the senior national team leaders invested in the Espana jersey - which is an inspiration to the 17-year-old.

"We have a great generation with players like (Pau) Gasol and (Juan Carlos) Navarro. It's a great era for us. We want to be like them," he explained. "Spain always is a team that has a great character. We come here to win the championship."

In addition to Gonzalez, Spain must also get a great performance from his buddy Sergi Martinez if Spain want to hoist the trophy. 

"He is a very good player. He is strong, reads the game well. I am very comfortable with him on the court. It's an honour to be on the court with him," Gonzalez said of his team-mate.

To play for my country is an honour for me. The only thing I want is to win all the games and do my best. - Gonzalez

Spain have finished fourth at the last two editions of the U17 Worlds and came in fourth at the 2015 FIBA U16 European Championship as well. But Gonzalez thinks they have a good chance of accomplishing something big in Zaragoza. 

"Last year we played with eight guys but this year we are deeper and can play with any player. Anyone [on the team] can do good things. If we are a team we could win the (FIBA U17) World Championship."

That would certainly make Gonzalez and his teammates the role models of some 17-year-olds just picking up the basketball for the first time. 

FIBA