INDIANAPOLIS (FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 European Qualifiers) - T.J. Leaf's only appearance for Israel came in the summer of 2015, but he definitely feels "mentally" a part of the Israeli team in the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 European Qualifiers and wants to wear the blue and white soon.

Leaf has yet to play in the European Qualifiers but the forward said he is really been following Israel's qualification campaign, in which the team has picked up a 2-2 record in Group H.

"I have been following their results and they have showed some great things so far. I am not in the team right now but I feel that 'mentally' I am part of that group of players, I have a special link with Israel and with the guys," the 20-year-old Leaf said. "I am supporting them and was so happy that they won already two games. I can't play for now, but I feel that I am part of the entire project and I am 100 percent behind the guys."

Israel are currently in second place in the group and have two big games coming up this summer at home against Greece on June 29 and at Great Britain on July 2. And Leaf believes in his homeland.

"The journey to the World Cup is still long, but we have the potential to qualify for the next round and see what we can do. The first goal is to secure a spot for the next round. That is the priority for now," said Leaf, who was born in Tel Aviv to an American playing basketball professionally in Israel and lived there until he was 2 and a half years old before moving to the United States.

"I have been following their results and they have showed some great things so far. I am not in the team right now but I feel that 'mentally' I am part of that group of players, I have a special link with Israel and with the guys. I am supporting them and was so happy that they won already two games. I can't play for now, but I feel that I am part of the entire project and I am 100 percent behind the guys."T.J. LeafT.J. Leaf

Leaf played for Israel for the first and - until now - only time at the FIBA U18 European Championship 2015, Division B, where he averaged 16.1 points, 8.4 rebounds and 2.2 assists.

And Leaf is definitely thinking about playing for the senior team.

"Hopefully in the future, very soon, I can go and wear the national team jersey again. The whole experience was unique. I am looking forward to have some more experiences like this, competing with the senior national team and playing against the best guys in Europe and in the world," said Leaf, who is averaging 2.9 points and 1.6 rebounds in his rookie season with the Pacers.

"The connection is still on and hopefully, in the near future, I will be able to represent the senior national team. I am still a rookie and I still don't know what is going to happen for the next summer for example, and I am not the only one who decides about it, so I just have to keep working and keep being ambitious to one day, sooner or later, play with Israel at the senior level. Playing for the senior national team and helping the guys is one goal of my career."

Leaf's desire to play for the senior team has only grown now that two of his teammates from that U18 group - Tamir Blatt and Yovel Zoosman - have already made their big team debuts. And an infusion of talented youngsters into the senior team is important as well, Leaf added.

"Israel has a lot of talented guys. The young players that had a good run (and finished second) last summer at the FIBA U20 European Championship 2017, like Tamir Blatt among others, are going to get progressively more importance in the senior national team. We have to keep fighting and play with our heart. Everything is possible, and it would be amazing to see Israel competing at the world stage," Leaf said.

Leaf's presence in the NBA has also given him more access to Israel's superstar veteran Omri Casspi, who is playing for the Golden State Warriors.

"We talk often on the phone. He has been giving me some advice about the life in the NBA and we exchange a lot about the game. He has a lot of experience and he has been around the league for so many years, so that is a great source of information for me, kind of a big brother in some way," Leaf said. "He is an idol in Israel and he has been playing at this competitive level for a while, both in the NBA and with the national team. Omri is an example for all the Israeli players, including myself."

Soon Leaf can take some of that leadership advice and use it with the Israeli senior national team - while also fulfilling a long-term goal.

FIBA