Nathan Rodney: A superstar in the making. Photo: VINO

Nathan Rodney (white t-shirt) in action during practice on his community basketball court. Photo: VINO

The 16-year-old Rodney, a fifth form student at Elmore Stoutt High School who hails from Pockwood Pond, currently captains the Real Tool basketball team.

In an exclusive interview with the young player yesterday afternoon August 1, 2012 at the Sea Cows Bay Basketball Court where he was preparing for practice with his team, Rodney said he hopes to earn a scholarship to play college basketball overseas someday after finishing high school.

He noted that he plans to use his success as a basketball player to channel his dreams of also being the owner of a restaurant in the future.

The only child for his parents, who started playing basketball about three years ago, said he fell in love with the sport after watching his childhood idol, Shaquille O’Neal play on court. Rodney, who plays the centre position on court just as his idol did, sees himself achieving these goals once he remains focused and sticks to his plans.

Apart from being captain of the senior team and former District Three League captain, Rodney also mentors young players on court during his spare time which he did recently for the summer league.

His coach, Mr. Milton Mclean noted that this was very impressive and was in high praise of Rodney’s dedication and passion for the sport.

Asked whether he had any words of encouragement for other youngsters interested in the sport, he responded, “Basketball is a very fun sport which requires good conditioning, so if you want to play basketball you have to play hard … you have to do your school work.”

He noted this was because “usually nowadays you can’t play any sport, if you’re not good with your grades.”

Coach Mclean, in his comments about the star player, said the young centre “shows very good leadership skills, he’s very cooperative and I am very pleased to see how he is developing right now.”

Mclean appealed for support for players like Rodney to fuel their dreams and ambitions, acknowledging the contributions already provided by persons like Steve Parillon with his Future Stars Programme, which he said went a considerable distance in affording youngsters to be trained to participate in sports and remain off the streets when not in school.