Hlinason revelling in last summer's sound of U20 silence

Reykjavik (FIBA U20 European Championship 2017) - Crete will forever hold a special place in Tryggvi Hlinason's heart. It was there that he wrote basketball history for Iceland with a dramatic sound of silence. Hlinason would love to hear that again this year again on the Greek island at the FIBA U20 European Championship 2017.

Hlinason and Iceland were facing host team Greece in the Semi-Finals of the FIBA U20 European Championship 2016, Division B. The northern Europeans ended up knocking off Greece to reach the Final and book their first trip to Division A.

"I can't wait. This will be the next big step in my career and I can't wait to play with the best players that Europe has to offer, and step up for Iceland as their first Division A U20 team," Hlinason said.

The silence came from quietening the Greek fans in Crete - something Hlinason will never forget.

"It was my biggest moment in basketball so far. First of all, the house was crowded with Greece supporters, so the atmosphere was electric. Every time we did something good the crowd would go silent. That is one of the best feelings I have had in basketball," said Hlinason, who averaged 7.7 points, 8.8 rebounds and 1.7 blocks in the tournament including 6 points, 9 rebounds and 4 blocks in the game against Greece.

The 7ft 1in (2.16m) center even went a step further.

"It was my biggest moment in Basketball so far. First of all the house was crowded with Greece supporters, so the atmosphere was electric. And every time we did something good the crowd would go silence. And that is one of the best feeling I have had in basketball."Tryggvi HlinasonTryggvi Hlinason

"I would say that game might be one of the biggest in Icelandic Basketball. We lost in overtime against Montenegro (in the final) and we got the medal and we did something no one saw coming. Iceland made it to the next division. This was a huge moment for basketball in Iceland, and we hope to make it greater this year."

Hlinson was one of six players born in 1997 who played in Division B and can come back. That will be a "tremendously" big help, the big man said.

"We know what we are to expect and what is waiting for us. And we also know that this is our last year with the junior teams so we are going to make it our best," said Hlinason, who also played last summer for the Iceland senior national team in the qualifiers for FIBA EuroBasket 2017.

"I can't wait. This will be the next big step in my career and I can't wait to play with the best players that Europe has to offer, and step up for Iceland as their first Division A U20 team."Tryggvi HlinasonTryggvi Hlinason

"It was a big step in my life and I hope it will be a big part of my life for a long time," Hlinason said. "Last year I got to know the team and the lifestyle of professionals and the mindset and rules they live by. So I learned a lot and lastly I got to know how the national team goes around and how they act."

Hlinason really is only learning how to act as a basketball player since he started the game in January 2014.

"I wanted to stay in shape. I was always in some sport to keep in good shape so when I moved to Akureyri, I wanted to play basketball as that was a sport I always wanted to play."

"I hardly have space to be excited for it, there are so many things that are going to happen before starting with the U20," he admitted. "But of course I'm excited. I can't wait to go practice with those guys and start my career in basketball."

Before that is Crete, where Iceland are drawn into Group B with France, Montenegro and Turkey.

"The team objective is to stay in Division A. But this tournament is set up so everyone has a chance to do great things. So I say top eight is a objective we should get," he said. "We really just need one win in the fourth game (Round of 16) and if we do that I believe that we can make it even further."

If that is the case, there might just be a return of that satisfying silence.

FIBA