CAIRO (2015 FIBA U19 World Championship) - Confidence is a major part of basketball and it's something that clearly can build over the course of a tournament.

Egypt are hoping Ahmed Khalaf remembers how well he played last summer and can start the 2015 FIBA U19 World Championship at a high level.

Khalaf went into the 2014 FIBA U17 World Championship more as a nugget of trivia information, given that he was the third-youngster player at the competition. However, people noticed early on that the 2.03m 15-year-old had some shot blocking ability, swatting five shots in each of his first two games. He then collected 10 rebounds and eight blocks against Puerto Rico.

That was clearly the start of his break-out.

Khalaf played well against Greece with 10 points, 10 rebounds and five blocks and the shackles were off as he thoroughly dominated Egypt's final two competitors with 19 points, 13 rebounds and four blocks versus Philippines and signing off with 15 points, 19 rebounds and six blocks against Japan.

"Ahmed went to the U17 World Championship as a debutant at the age of 15," recalled Branislav Jemc, Egypt's coach last summer in Dubai, who will also be in charge of the team in Heraklion.

"As the tournament was progressing, he was getting better each game and his contribution to the team made him an important player for us. He became experienced player at the end of the championship."

Even late in the tournament, Khalaf admitted he felt more comfortable, saying: "I never thought it would happen, but I can see now that I am equal to them. I am good and I can participate again in this kind of World Championship."

Khalaf, who is young enough to play at next summer's FIBA U17 World Championship should Egypt qualify, will likely be one of the youngest players again at the upcoming FIBA U19 Worlds, where Egypt will face the United States, Croatia and Iran in Group A.

And that experience as a youngster will be beneficial to his development according to Jemc.

"In the young players' development, it's necessary to play games against big and strong competitors. In that way, they gain the experience and realise how much they need to work and improve themselves in order to reach a higher level," said the veteran Serbian coach.

Khalaf, who turned 16 in February, came late to basketball. He has only been playing for about four years, having previously dedicated his time to swimming and playing volleyball. He spent two years at a small club in Cairo before moving to Al Gezira Cairo, one of the biggest clubs in the country.

This is the first full year that Jemc has been working with Khalaf and the coach believes the youngster has a solid work ethic.

"Ahmed is dedicated to basketball. He is ambitious and wants to improve himself. He is hard working, and works well in practices. I'm confident that hard work will pay off," he said.

Jemc also thinks Khalaf will play a solid role in Greece.

"Khalaf is a player with great potential and I can say he is improving. He is a dominant player in his [1999] generation so I expect a certain contribution at the U19 Worlds," the coach said looking ahead to the tournament taking place from 27 June-5 July.

FIBA