Rwandan youngster Rebecca Cyuzuzo, 18, has been named the overall team Most Valuable Player (MVP) at Ben Ford Christian School for the 2025/26 season.

Cyuzuzo also ranked among the top players in the Midsouth Association of Independent Schools, a consortium of schools in Mississippi, Tennessee, Louisiana, and Arkansas. Her performances earned her selection to the three-state all-star game, where she emerged as the top player.

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The former Hoops Rwanda player and Rwanda U18 national team member moved to the United States in September last year on a basketball scholarship.

Before leaving Rwanda, she had impressed in the women’s national basketball league, recording 183 points, 170 rebounds, 26 assists, 11 blocks, and an efficiency rating of 230 during the 2025 season.

At her new school, Cyuzuzo averaged 20 points and 15 rebounds per game, while also standing out for her ball handling, passing, and shooting ability despite playing as a big player.

Her coach, Derek Dantin, praised her "tremendous impact” on the team and backed her to reach higher levels in the sport.

"Here in the States, she has already attracted interest from many colleges. I truly believe she will become a pro,” he said.

Cyuzuzo is expected in Kigali early next week to participate in BAL4Her, an event organised by the Basketball African League (BAL) as part of its commitment to promoting gender equality among basketball enthusiasts and local stakeholders.

The event includes sessions where mentors from different basketball and sports ecosystems officials share experiences on how they broke barriers on their journey.