Walker Kessler is getting the spotlight by Team USA as the World Cup looms

The Utah Jazz’s own Walker Kessler is getting highlighted by Team USA just before the FIBA World Cup.

The FIBA World Cup is getting to start on Aug. 25, and every major basketball organization, their teams, and the fans who cheer for their clubs will have their eyes on the tournament. Not only is this to find out what country has the best talent, but it’s also a great opportunity for younger and less well-known players to start making their names known. One of those names hoping to help build a legacy with international competitions is Walker Kessler, the young developing center for the Utah Jazz.

Kessler is the Jazz’s defensive dynamo, and he’s looking to follow in the footsteps of other great big men the Jazz have had in Mark Eaton and Rudy Gobert. Those two men were also Defensive Players of the Year, an award that many see Kessler securing sometime soon.

And despite Kessler not getting a lot of playing time so far through the preliminary rounds, he’s still getting featured by Team USA’s social media accounts. In his moment in the sun, Kessler does a nice job hyping up the team and how much he’s learned from playing with everybody.

He also acknowledges and understands the fact that as a member of Team USA, he and his team are going to be held to a “higher standard” than other countries, as Team USA is often seen as the team to be in international competitions.

Kessler comes across as professional and respectful in his nearly 90-second clip, and if he’s able to get some actual playing time during the tournament, his affable personality and his ability to hoop on both ends of the court will surely cause his star to rise.

Team USA begins their quest for FIBA World Cup gold on Saturday, Aug. 26, against New Zealand at 8:40 AM ET. The game will air on ESPN 2.