SACRAMENTO (FIBA Basketball World Cup) - One of the reasons why the USA is considered by many as the best basketball country in the world is down to an endless pool of talented players.

Every year, many promising talents affirm themselves in the NBA and dream of following in the footsteps of national team superstars such as LeBron James or Kevin Durant.

For USA national team coach Mike Krzyzewski and USA Basketball Chairman Jerry Colangelo, this situation is both incredible and overwhelming as they have to choose between so many talented players to make the final squad.

Coach K and Colangelo's success - including Olympic gold medals at the 2008 and 2012 Games and the title of world champions won in Turkey in 2010 - is in part due to the presence of some emerging talents on the team alongside superstars such as NBA MVP Durant and Kevin Love.

Sacramento Kings center DeMarcus Cousins is one of the young players knocking on the door of the national team.

Selected in the USA's 28-player pool for 2014-2016, the former University of Kentucky product wants to represent his country at this summer's FIBA Basketball World Cup in Spain.

"It would be fantastic for me to be part of the team that will defend the world title in Spain. It's one of my main goals this year," Cousins told FIBA.com.

With less than 80 days to go to the start of FIBA's flagship event (30 August-14 September), 23-year-old Cousins has the potential to be one of the big men for the USA side that will open its Spain 2014 campaign in Bilbao's Group C against Turkey, Dominican Republic, New Zealand, Finland and Ukraine.

Competing for a spot on the final roster with Andre Drummond (Detroit Pistons), Tyson Chandler (New York Knicks) and Dwight Howard (Houston Rockets), he can bring some fresh blood to the center position on Coach K's squad.

One of the most skilled big men in the NBA, the Alabama native has yet to earn his first senior national team cap, but has participated in the last two USA Basketball training camps, in 2012 and 2013.

After failing to make the final roster for the 2012 Olympics and being publicly criticised for his lack of maturity by Colangelo, Cousins showed improvement last summer.

"What happened in 2012 has been blown out of proportion. The file is closed. I am very thankful that Mr Colangelo gave me another chance last summer," he stated.

"I think that I have been doing well during the 2013 training camp and I know that I can bring something to the national team.

"I can bring athleticism in the paint, rebounds and high energy. I am a competitor and I want to help the team keep winning titles. One of my dreams is to win gold medals with my country.

"I am looking forward to the training camp to show what I can do. Everyone wants to be on the final roster and I am going to do my best in order to convince the coach to select me in the team that is going to defend the world title. I want to be one of the 12 players who are going to Spain," he said.

As one of the favourites at Spain 2014, the USA have the possibility of winning back-to-back world championship titles, something they have have never done before.

"We need to respect every team but our goal is to win the title for a second time in a row. The USA has to stay in the top of world's basketball and we have no other choice but winning the competition. I am sure we can do it," Cousins offered.

The 2.11m big man is seen as the future of the Kings, who had one of the worst records in the NBA this season with just 28 wins and 54 losses.

Despite his team's bad results, Cousins had his a career year, averaging 22.2 points, 11.3 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 1.7 steals and 1.3 blocks per game.

"Personally, I had a great season but I know that I can still do better. I need to dominate the paint every night no matter who the opponent is," he said.

"This past season was very frustrating for the team. We have been improving but we really need to win more games and secure a spot in the playoffs next season."

"We have a talented group of young players and have the potential to be a great team very soon. We are going to keep working hard and do everything to bring the spotlight back to Sacramento."

FIBA