Denmark coach Allan Foss doesn't pull any punches when discussing the importance of Christian Drejer to the Scandinavian country's EuroBasket 2007 qualifying hopes.

"Christian not only is a great player but has a great personality," Foss said.

"Most of all, he's the greatest talent we've ever had in Danish basketball."

How's that for a ringing endorsement?

Drejer, who spent time at the University of Florida before turning professional and playing first for Barcelona and switching to current club Virtus Bologna, is just 24 years old but has already made significant contributions to the Danish cause.

In their successful EuroBasket Division B promotion winning campaign in 2005, he was amazing. Drejer averaged 20.5 points, seven rebounds and 2.3 assists.

In their attempts to qualify for this year's EuroBasket, he poured in better than 15 points on 54.1% shooting from the floor and also averaged five rebounds.

"He's a role model for a lot of the young players in Denmark," said Foss, who recently visited with Drejer at the EuroCup Final Four in Spain where Virtus played and finished third.

"That's why it was also so important me to be at Girona, to talk to Christian and talk to this coach (Virtus coach Zare Markovski)."

Denmark's EuroBasket qualifying hopes are not bright.

They won just one of their five games in Group D, finishing fourth behind Croatia, Latvia and Estonia. In the additional qualifying tournament, it looks like mission impossible with games against Ukraine, Israel and Belgium.

Realistically, Foss knows his team will do well to avoid relegation to Division B.

With Drejer, a 2007 EuroCup All Star, Denmark will have a great chance of beating the drop.