Rwanda U18 national basketball team captain Arnaud Nkusi left the country on Thursday for the United States of America, courtesy of a fully-sponsored scholarship at the Potter’s House Christian Academy in Jacksonville, Florida.

The young basketball player left Kigali International Airport at 8pm, and before departure, he told Times Sport that, "I’m really excited about this opportunity not only to study but also to develop my playing career in the home of basketball.”

"Honestly, this is a dream come true, and I look forward to work hard so that I can achieve a career goal in basketball but at the same time further my studies,” said the 17-year-old power forward.

Nkusi follows his two compatriots and U18 teammates; Cadeau de Dieu Furaha and Osborn Shema, who also obtained scholarships at Quality Education Academy in North Carolina. The duo left the country in August.

Nkusi played for Rwanda during the 2015 FIBA-Africa U16 Men’s Championships held in Bamako in Mali, accumulating scores of 4.3 points and 4.8 rebounds per game.

This year, he was instrumental in leading the U18 side to finish 5th at the FIBA-Africa U18 Men’s Championships staged in Kigali. The championship was won by Angola after beating defending champions Egypt in the final.

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