Teenager Sano Rutatika is currently enjoying an impeccable senior national team breakthrough at the ongoing FIBA Afro-CAN qualifiers in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, a rare experience for the youngster who is mostly known in junior national teams. The 19-year-old forward has previously captained the U16 and U18 teams, and has done good work on the court for the junior teams with his leadership and basketball skills. ALSO READ:VIDEO - Basketball: U-18 Captain Rutatika on team’s aspirations at the African Championships Much of his club basketball has been in the United States where he had stints at a number of school teams. He is now a registered player for local side Rwanda Energy Group (REG) basketball club, although he has been struggling with game time before the league took a break. His national team outing at the ongoing Afro-CAN qualifiers is giving him room to showcase what he can offer to the game, and so far, he has had a fairly good performance. He registered seven points, six rebounds, and two assists as Rwanda beat Eritrea in the opening game of the qualifiers. He then scored 11 points, seven rebounds and one assist against South Sudan while, against Tanzania, he netted six points, five rebounds and one assist. The national team has a number of forwards including Cadeaux Furaha, William Robeyns and Axel Mpoyo but Rutatika could soon join them as he continues to impress coach Cheikh Sarr during the qualifiers. In his US playing career, the 2.05m forward averaged 12.4 points per game while shooting more than 50 percent from the floor at Lake Forest Academy in Chicago, one of the schools where he played. Jeff Burkhamer, his coach at University of West Florida described him as an athletic forward who is very skilled and has great size and speed. He has been taught well at both Lake Forest and at the NBA Academy in Africa. He can score inside and outside, and rebound and block shots. He should be one of the best freshmen in the Gulf South Conference. Rutatika participated in the NBA Academy Africa program in Senegal and played for the Africa and Middle East team in the inaugural Jr. NBA Global Championship in 2018. As his chance at the senior national team beckons, Rutatika is the star in the making who has been looking forward to the opportunity to shine at such big stages despite his young age. “Age is just a number, it’s just about working hard, the efficiency, the discipline that you have and what you can contribute to the team,” he told Weekend Sport in a previous interview.
