HERAKLION (Greece) - Some legendary names are running around the courts at the FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup 2019. But the players bearing those surnames in Heraklion are busy establishing their own legacy in the game as sons or brothers of their star family members.

It's hard to miss names like Farabello, Pecarski, Ayayi, Cameron and Froling - all of which have meant so much to their respective countries. Those basketball families are only growing that much bigger on the global level with the latest Farabellos, Pecarskis, Ayayis, Camerons and Frolings leading the way for their teams.

Nearly all 16 teams at the U19 World Cup have at least one player who has a father, mother, brother or sister who left a legacy on the game - or are in the process of doing it themselves for some. Here are just a selection of them.

Father's teammates such as Ginobili, Delfino and Scola

Argentina guard Francisco Farabello says he never felt any pressure having the same surname as Daniel Farabello, who played for Argentina at the 1994 and 2006 FIBA World Cups and the 1996 Olympics.

"I always wanted to be like my dad, playing all the important tournaments that he played. That's my goal. I grew up watching him play so he's an inspiration and a motivation to be like him. But everything without pressure. I'm doing my career, he did his career. I'm a different person, so I just focus on my career," the younger Farabello said.

Francisco, who was coached by his father, said it was always an honor watching his father play for Argentina and even got a chance to be around some of the country’s biggest legends such as Manu Ginobili, Carlos Delfino and Luis Scola.

And Farabello's favorite memory: "Before the Olympics in 2012, I got into the locker room and Manu Ginobili was there, and he is an incredible person, unbelievable player."

Legend from Bormio

There is already a U19 World Cup gold medal at the household of Marko Pecarski. His father Miroslav Pecarski played on one of the most famous teams in the history of the competition - the Yugoslavia team which won the 1987 crown in Bormio and included the likes of Vlade Divac, Dino Radja, Tony Kukoc and Aleksandar Djordjevic with Svetislav Pesic as head coach.

"I started to love basketball because of him," Marko said of his father, who also won the EuroLeague with Panathinaikos in 1996, the FIBA Saporta Cup in 1993 with Aris and the FIBA Korac Cup in 1989 with Partizan. "He always told me I should always be at my best level. I should always play the best I can and put energy into my game. I can always expect him to give me advice because he’s been through everything."

All in the Froling family

One of the players who faced that amazing Yugoslavia team in 1987 was Shane Froling. And as far as big family names in Australian basketball go, it's hard to find any more influential than Froling.

Not only did Froling play at the U19 World Cup in 1987, he also served as an Australian Junior Men’s Emus development coach from 2006 to 2011. His wife Jenny (Lind) Froling also played basketball and went through the Australian Institute of Sport. Their twin daughters Alicia and Keely Froling played at the FIBA U17 Women's Basketball World Cup 2012 while Alicia played at the FIBA U19 Women's Basketball World Cup in 2013 and 2015 as well. And son Harry Froling played at the FIBA U17 Basketball World Cup 2014, finishing second to the United States. Sam Froling is in Crete as the fourth and youngest child, having already played at the FIBA U17 Basketball World Cup 2016.

Tall Blacks legend's son making own mark

One of the greatest feats in New Zealand basketball history came at the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2002 when the Tall Blacks reached the Semi-Finals and finished fourth. Pero Cameron was one of the stars of that team and he helped New Zealand to also reach the 2006 and 2010 World Cups as well as the 2000 and 2004 Men's Olympic Basketball Tournaments. The FIBA Hall of Fame member also has seen two of his three children play the game at the global level. The 1999-born Tobias Cameron and 2000-born Flynn Cameron played together at the U19 World Cup 2017 and Flynn is back for another run in Heraklion.

Future Argentina with three Caffaro brothers?

While New Zealand's U19 team had the two Cameron brothers in Cairo, it wouldn't be too much of a reach to think of Argentina's senior national team including three Caffaro brothers in the not-so-distant future.

The 24-year-old Agustin Caffaro already made his debut with the senior team in the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 Americas Qualifiers, playing in two games. Francisco Caffaro is in Heraklion in his second U19 World Cup after also appearing at Cairo 2017 and having played at the FIBA U17 Basketball World Cup 2016. After brother Agustin and Francisco played at the U17 World Cup, the younger brother Esteban Caffaro could also play in the competition next summer after he guided Argentina to fourth place at the FIBA U16 Americas Championship 2019.

"Hopefully we can all play together for the senior national team. That would be amazing. It’s a dream for us. We really want to do that. We just have to focus on what we are doing right now," Francisco Caffaro said.

Double Ayayi medals in Belgrade and Heraklion?

While most of the famous basketball family from the players in Heraklion have already left the sport, there is a chance that Joel Ayayi of France can win a medal at the same time as his family member. Ayayi's older sister is Valeriane Ayayi, who will play in the Quarter-Finals of the FIBA Women's EuroBasket 2019 on July 4. Valeriane has already played at two FIBA U19 Women's Basketball World Cups (2011 and 2013) and has two second-placed Women's EuroBasket finishes (2013 and 2017). June 7 could become a day to never forget for the Ayayi family as both the Women's EuroBasket Final and the U19 World Cup Final will be played that day. Could two Ayayis help two France teams to two titles? 

"It would be really, really big time,” said Joel, who watched Valeriane reach the Quarter-Finals with a win on Sunday June 30 after having beaten China earlier in the day in Heraklion.

"It's big time to me. That's my sister and I am watching her all the time. It's really cool to be here in Greece. We have a group chat and we just talk about each other's game and catch up," Ayayi said. "We talk about how fun it is to be able to play basketball at this level on the same day. and it’s fun for my parents too."

Plenty more

Those were just a selection of some of the players with family connections. There is one connection in Heraklion as Mali point guard Sirimane Kanoute has his father Sega Kanoute on the coaching staff and the elder Kanoute is a member of the Malian Basketball Federation's board and also the coach of the AS Real women's team and assistant coach of the Junior Boys national squad.

Argentina's Juan De La Fuente's father Esteban De La Fuente played  in the 1990 and 1998 FIBA World Cups and the 1996 Olympics. Dovydas Giedraitis would love to match some of the success of his father Andrius Giedraitis, who helped Lithuania to the FIBA EuroBasket 2003 title after also playing in the 2000 Olympics. 

China big man Li Lutong is the son of current China senior national team coach Li Nan. The uncle of United States guard Tyrese Haliburton is three-time NBA All-Star Eddie Jones. Nicolas Evtimov of France's father is Vassil Evtimov, who played senior national team basketball for both France and Bulgaria. Jean Senegal point guard Jacques Boissy's father Elise Boissy played at FIBA AfroBasket 2003. Martynas Arlauskas' father Mindaugas Arlauskas played professionally for Zalgiris and in the youth ranks for the Soviet Union. And Dave Ildefonso of the Philippines is the son of former PBA MVP Danny Ildefonso.

FIBA