DUBAI (FIBA U17 World Championship) - The 1995-born generation is considered a golden one for Egypt with the likes of Anas Mahmoud, Ehab Amin and Moataz Hosny winning the 2011 FIBA Africa U16 Championship title and moving on to colleges in the United States.

Ahmed Khalaf wants to match the accomplishments of his compatriots and is showing at the 2014 FIBA U17 World Championship that he could even eclipse them - despite being two years younger than the competition.

Khalaf is the third-youngest player in Dubai as he won't turn 16 until next February. But that hasn't stopped the 2.03m center from showcasing an intriguing skill set.

Khalaf has averaged 4.0 points, 5.8 rebounds and a competition-best 4.8 blocks. After blocking five shots against both Argentina and Serbia, he got just one block against China but bounced back with eight blocks against Puerto Rico in a tight Round of 16 game, which went to overtime before Egypt lost.

"I hear from the coaches and I can see it myself that my strength is that I'm tall for my age. I can block shots. I have good anticipation of the ball," said Khalaf through an interpreter.

"My weakness, as everyone can see, is that I am very thin and very weak."

Khalaf, who goes by "Bebo" on his jersey, has only been playing basketball for three years after swimming and playing volleyball before that. Someone from a small club in Cairo asked him to play basketball and he spent two years in that club before moving to Al Gezira Cairo, one of the biggest clubs in the country.

But Khalaf feels that he belongs here at this age group - and this U17 World Championship.

"It's a really good experience for me personally and individually. And it's a big honour to be with the Egyptian national team at this age group. 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," said the player who is actually young enough to play in the 2016 FIBA U17 World Championship if Egypt were to qualify.

When asked which players he looks up to, the youngster said senior national team big man Assem Marei, who is playing collegiately in the United States with Division II Minnesota State-Mankato. Khalaf added that he doesn't have any NBA players he follows.

"I haven't played basketball long enough to know many others," he admitted.

Khalaf did mention he looks up to the likes of Mahmoud, Amin and Hosny, who all played at the 2012 FIBA U17 World Championship but were unable to come up with a victory in finishing 12th of 12 teams.

"I look up to them a lot. They are good players, but I think I can do even better. I want to be in the NBA. I will work as hard as I can to reach the NBA," he said.

The center said he first wants to go to high school and college in the United States.

"I have heard a lot about the experiences from my countrymen Anas, Ehab and Moataz. They all tell me great stories about college and high school in the USA, and I want to be like them," said Khalaf.

Maybe other young Egyptians behind him will soon start looking up to Khalaf.

FIBA