The Year 9 student attends the Scots College in Sydney as a boarder and was unable to attend the academy’s awards night in Bathurst but was “stoked” when he received the news.

“It’s a surprise when you know everyone else that was in the program was so good,” he said.

“I was involved with the WRAS basketball program which is run by coaches Nancy Hallsop and Brett Coxedge.

“They run individual skill sessions every week at each town in the western area. Peter Gaiter ran Dubbo sessions which used to have Gilgandra kids come over to join in as well. I also went to three weekend camps, two in Bathurst and one in Wallerawang.

“It has really helped me with developing not only my basketball skills but it has also made me more independent on the court.”

At just 15, the bustling centre is already a member of the Scots first grade basketball side, who compete in the GPS Sydney school boys competition.

“Basketball is going really well at the moment - our Scots team is undefeated this season with four wins against Newington, Sydney Boys Grammar, Shore and Riverview,” he said.

“We are half way through this term’s games but we then have another term of games in term one next year

where we play everyone again.

“ We train every day of the week besides Sundays and playing Saturdays and have three gym sessions in the morning before school.”

Anderson has also recently made it into the under-18s representative team, the Sydney Comets, with whom he will play with throughout next winter.

“I’m looking forward to playing with the Comets next winter and I’m also hoping to be selected in the GPS team,” he said.

“Then if I am lucky, I’ll then make the NSW schoolboys team.

“But I think I need to improve my ball handling skills and my shooting If I want to pursue basketball as a profession.”