Youngster Rugette the leader of Uganda's promising basketball future
Teenager Tejan Joel Rugette is becoming a name to remember in the narrative of African basketball.
KAMPALA (Uganda) - Teenager Tejan Joel Rugette is becoming a name to remember in the narrative of African basketball - if his exploits on the court are anything to go by at the recent 2024 FIBA U18 African Championship Qualifiers for Zone 5 countries.
The 16-year-old again confirmed his star status by leading Uganda as they successfully qualified for this year's FIBA U18 African Championship to be held in South Africa in August.
Rugette also captain of the Junior Silverbacks, averaged 10 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 6.4 assists in the Zone 5 qualifying tournament held on home soil.
He also scooped the MVP crown to cap off a memorable qualifying tournament.
Ahead of their final game against neighbouring Rwanda, which ended in a 69-66 victory, Rugette, whose 15 points, six rebounds, and five assists in the encounter, exuded confidence before the game.
"We are preparing to win this (game against Rwanda) and go to South Africa," said Rugette.
It will not be the first time Rugette graces the continental scene, having played in the 2023 FIBA U16 African Championships, and he was one of the players who set the tournament alight.
Despite Uganda's 10th-place finish at the junior continental tournament in Tunisia, Rugette averaged 26.6 points, 5.8 rebounds and 3.6 assists.
His production may have dropped in the recent Zone 5 U18 Qualifiers, and the reason for that could be his leadership role has made him look at the game differently.
His coach, Andrew Tendo, says the experience of working with a generational player like Rugette has been beneficial.
"It's always a blessing for a coach to experience handling a special talent like Tejan because such a player doesn't come around often. On the mentorship side of things, there was growth for both the player and coaches," said Tendo, who coaches City Oilers in the Uganda Basketball League.
Tendo also spoke of the young prodigy's leadership ability. "I was impressed by Tejan's leadership simply because he is a very motivated and down-to-earth player, and it was a blessing to see such a young player connect with all his teammates and deliver when the team needed him the most."
While Ruggette stole the show with his exceptional play, Tendo believes the future looks promising for the East African nation.
"As a coach, I am really excited about having experienced the fortune of qualifying for Uganda the U18 AfroBasket. It's a clear picture of the kind of young talent that the country has - the future of basketball in Uganda is very bright," said Tendo. "Experiencing the young talent during the preparations for the tournament (Zone 5 qualifiers) and qualifiers has been an eye-opener. I have been impressed by the level of skill and discipline that this young crop of players possesses. It's something you come across often in basketball."
Uganda has done half the job by qualifying for the upcoming FIBA U18 African Championship. In August, the continent will wait to see what these Junior Silverbacks are made of.
FIBA