Meet Greece's budding star

Following in the hallowed footsteps of her legendary father,Greece's Mariella Fasoula has the burden of expectation firmly on her tender shoulders.

But the budding superstar is relishing the pressure and is excited to be part of her first major tournament as the youngest member of Greece's team at EuroBasket Women 2015. The precocious center is also considerably Greece's tallest player at a towering 1.94m.

Fasoula is only 17 years old, but her mature game highlighted by savvy post moves impressed during last year's U18 European Championship Women and at club level with Proteas Voulas.

Greece has struggled in recent years and may find it difficult to qualify out of a strong Group B with their lack of frontcourt punch considered a weakness. But the anticipation of watching Fasoula - who is considered one of the best youngsters in Europe - is palpable and her expected emergence could fuel a renaissance for Greece.

Savouring being part of the senior team, Fasoula is using the tournament as a learning experience rather than a chance to shine on the big stage.

"I'm learning many things already by being here just by practicing and learning from the coaches, who are really preparing me for the bigger levels," she said.

Fasoula admitted she was well aware of the steep learning curve that lay ahead.During games where she is likely to battle Belarus' intimidating duo of Yelena Leuchanka and Anastasiya Veramyenka, and Turkey's imposing frontcourt ofNevriye Yilmaz and Lara Sanders, Fasoula's emerging game will be tested like never before. 

"I have many weaknesses and I have to work on getting better in the post, learn more about rebounding and becoming a better teammate," she said.

Fasoula is used to the spotlight as the daughter of iconic player Panagiotis Fasoulas. A towering figure - quite literally too, standing 2.13m tall - of Greek basketball in the 1980s and 1990s, Fasoulas was selected by the Portland Trailblazers in 1986 but never decided to play in the NBA.

Inevitably, basketball was a major part of her household but Fasoula said her love of the game developed naturally.

"My father never pressured me to play," she said. "Now he comments on my game but doesn’t act as a coach.

"He tells me the good and bad, and what I have to do. He's like a mentor. I am proud to follow in his footsteps."

Speaking with maturity beyond her tender age, Fasoula said she was undaunted by the expectations of her being the next superstar of women's basketball in Greece.

"There is pressure… I'm not saying that I am going to be the next superstar," she warned.

"There is always pressure, but it is a nice pressure and you learn from it. I just really want to continue to be part of the national team."

Fasoula is at the start of a promising journey, which will accelerate further when she moves to the United States in August to play and study at Boston College.

Amid all the hype and potential suffocating pressure, Fasoula is ensuring she enjoys the exciting ride.

Greece tip off their EuroBasket Women 2015 campaign against Italy on Friday night.