With Pau Gasol absent through injury a lot of attention is likely to be fixed on Spain center Fran Vazquez when his side begin their EuroBasket campaign in Belgrade next month.

However, the 22-year-old has yet to make his international debut and says he still has a long way to go before he can expect to emulate the likes of Gasol.

Vazquez is the man of the moment in Spanish basketball after being chosen by the Orlando Magic in this year's NBA draft.

He was the 11th pick by the NBA side, the second-highest placing by a Spaniard and only bettered by Gasol.

Unlike Gasol, however, Vazquez resisted the lure of the NBA and instead signed a deal with big-spending Akasvayu Gijon, even though both Barcelona and Real Madrid were also thought to be interested.

That has made him the highest-paid player in the Liga ACB, something surprising for a player who has yet to represent his country.

"I feel the same as I did a year ago and I think that my way of going into the preparation for the (European) Championships has not changed," said Vazquez, who was not fit enough to be considered for a place at last year's Olympic Games.

"Last year I had the bad luck to pick up an injury and I didn't go to the Games. Now my objective is to give everything to become a fixture in the side."

However, Vazquez does not believe he can have the same effect that the absent Gasol has on the side.

"It is a matter of pride that people have confidence in me and that there are people who compare me with Pau, but firstly we are different players and it is clear that he is much more decisive than I am," said Vazquez.

"All I hope to do is improve with time and hard work. I don't think I am yet decisive and there are a lot of players like I am."