MEX - Estrada taking first steps as a pro

XALAPA (FIBA Basketball World Cup) - Remember the name Jose David Estrada Stone.

A 19-year-old playing in his first season of professional basketball in Mexico, Estrada is at the beginning of a journey that will see him become an important player in his country's national team.

Having played high school basketball in Montebello, California, Estrada considered playing American college basketball but he instead elected to turn professional and suit up for Halcones Xalapa in Veracruz, the side led by national team coach Sergio Valdeolmillos.

He is also enrolled at the University of Xalapa.

With Halcones, he not only practices and plays, albeit sparingly so far, for Valdeolmillos but also works out on a daily basis with Mexico national team players like Noe Alonzo and Orlando Mendez.

"It's a good experience and I'm trying to take full advantage," Estrada said.

"I try to learn from each of them…they give me a lot of advice on everything, from training to reaching the best level of play that I can."

And the strength of the league?

"The level of LNBP is getting stronger year after year," he said.

"For example, as I see it, I think today there is much more competition between teams internationally."

Estrada has already donned the Mexico shirt.

The 1.94m guard raised eyebrows at the 2012 FIBA Americas U18 Championship in Sao Sebastian do Paraiso in Brazil, averaging a tournament-best 22.2 points per game as Mexico finished fifth.

One of his top performances came against the hosts on the opening day when he poured in 33 points.

Estrada graduated to the senior team last summer at the COCABA Championship but Valdeolmillos felt he needed more seasoning and didn't take him to the 2013 FIBA Americas Championship in Caracas.

Mexico won the title and was among four sides to clinch places in the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup.

Estrada wants to be an important member of the national squad but fully understands how hard he must work to gain a place.

As for his immediate future, he said in the Mexican media: "I plan to play two seasons with Falcons and then, if all goes well, try to find an opportunity in Europe."

FIBA