An Alexandria basketballer is set to represent Scotland at the Four Nations this week.
Towering Vale of Leven Academy pupil Gavin Mitchell, 14, is travelling to Ireland as part of the Scotland under-16s squad for the showcase event in Dublin.
It marks a huge achievement for the 6’6 centre, who only decided to focus on the sport and quit football last May.
Delighted mum Lynsey said: “I was so proud, it’s absolutely incredible news. I don’t think Gavin realises how amazing it is.
“He’s very easy going and takes everything as it goes.
“When he joined his new team, Basketballpaisley, last May his coach was a former Commonwealth Games player for Scotland.
“He told Gavin that if he worked hard then a pathway was open to him which would lead to representing Scotland.
“Everything he said has happened. But it’s gone so quickly. He’s not even been with the team for a year and we’re already at this stage. It’s insane.
“Previously he would be playing football and basketball every weekend.
“But he realised he was enjoying his basketball a lot more so focused on that.
“He now plays for a national league team. We’re absolutely all over the country. We’ve been to Inverness, Dundee, Stirling – all over the place.”
While Gavin is standing out on the court, the humble teen hasn’t been one to shout about his achievements.
Lynsey explained: “I don’t even think his school or his PE teacher know that he’s at this level.
“It’s not a sport with a big presence in West Dunbartonshire.
“It’s just the next step in the journey for him.
“When he joined Basketballpaisley he was setting himself little goals.
“He wanted to fit in and get to know the boys, then he was aiming for a certain number of minutes.
“In the first game he wanted to be one of the 12 players selected. Then he became a starter.
“He wanted to get so many minutes a game.
“His coaches told him he would be a big minutes player and explained what they were looking for.
“We’ve had to look at what he eats, how he rests.”
After catching the eye of Scotland selectors with a starring performance in a cup final last month, Gavin will now travel to Ireland as one of 12 players picked to represent the national side – and will be boosted by family support.
Lynsey added: “His own coach believed that he would be chosen.
“There had been a cup final game at the beginning of March and, although Paisley lost, Gavin’s stats were superb.
“He had 28 points, 25 rebounds and his coach said if they didn’t choose him after that they’d be crazy!
“He’s so new to the sport that we weren’t sure what would happen.
“We had a hope, but he’s done absolutely great.
“We’re going over to Ireland because who is to say we’ll get this chance again?
“Because it’s his first year and he’s only 14 he has another year playing U16s. So there’s a good chance he’ll be selected again next year.
“But you don’t know. So we’ll not take it for granted at all.”
