Nshobozwabyosenumukiza relishes Rwanda home support

KIGALI (FIBA Africa U18 Championship) - Jean Nshobozwabyosenumukiza is leading hosts Rwanda in scoring at the FIBA Africa U18 Championship having tallied 46 points so far. What makes the feat all the more impressive is that the he 1.82m point guard has done so while coming off the bench in two of the team's three games.

To think that three months prior to this tournament, he was on the edge of the team can come off as a shocker. He talked to FIBA.com about his journey.

FIBA.com: For people who don't know anything about you, can you tell them who is Jean Nshobozwabyosenumukiza?
Nshobozwabyosenumukiza: I am 18 years old and still a student in secondary school. I love basketball. I find so much pleasure when I am on court and basketball led me to experience so many good moments in my life and I have made good friends.

FIBA.com: Your name is rather long - Nshobozwabyosenumukiza - that's 23 characters. What does it mean?
Nshobozwabyosenumukiza: Hahahahaha….because I am a Christian, it means I am able to do everything because of God.

FIBA.com: Rwanda prepared for the FIBA Africa U18 Championship by featuring in the national league and also went to the USA on tour. You were not selected to go to the USA and were not a regular in the league. So how did you even make the final roster?
Nshobozwabyosenumukiza: When you love something, you cannot be distracted by something small. I did not take the exclusion as malice but rather it motivated me to continue working hard with the target of playing at the FIBA Africa U18 Championship. Some of the players who went to the USA did not make the team for the tournament but when you love something you give it your all and here I am.

FIBA.com: You played against Gabon in your opening game and surely this was the biggest game of your career at that point. What motivated you to play the way you did?
Nshobozwabyosenumukiza: When you are at home, you have to show that you are a strong team so we have been trying to give everything we have to make sure we win especially when we are in front of our Rwandan fans.

FIBA.com: The fans have consistently come out in big numbers to cheer on Rwanda. They did not hide their appreciation for your efforts. How did that make you feel?
Nshobozwabyosenumukiza: It was a great feeling to be honest. When fans come out in big numbers, it motivates us and gives us more zeal to even work harder to win so that we continue pleasing them.

FIBA.com: Two wins and a loss so far, how is it going for Rwanda?
Nshobozwabyosenumukiza: We have won two games out of three so far and we have one more to go. This means that we have a very good chance of making it to the Quarter-Finals and in fact being number one in our group.

FIBA.com: It is very evident that you boast of team cohesion, what is the secret?
Nshobozwabyosenumukiza: When you spend time together as a team you become a family so when you get on court and it is time to win, it becomes easy to work for each other during a game.

FIBA.com: Your family has watched all your games. How do you feel when you see them at the stadium?
Nshobozwabyosenumukiza: When I am on court, I have to show my family that this is what I can do best. We joined residential camp when school was still going on so at least my performance on court for my country can compensate for what I have missed at school.

FIBA.com: What are Rwanda's chances at this tournament?
Nshobozwabyosenumukiza: We want to take one game at a time and see how far we can go. We wish to win every game we play but it is not easy because this tournament has attracted the best teams on the African continent but we shall keep doing our best.

FIBA