Rwandan basketball prodigy Dylan Kayijuka, 17, was among standout performers at the just-concluded FIBA U18 Zone V tournament in which Rwanda finished in second place after a narrow 69-66 final loss to winners Uganda.

Concluded on Friday, May 13, the showpiece brought together four East African nations - Rwanda, Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania to vie not only for the regional trophy but also a qualification for boys and girls U18 AfroBasket which will unfold in Pretoria, South Africa in August.

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Kayijuka scored 96 points in the five games he played, and was named the top scorer of the competition. He also added 35 rebounds.

Despite losing the Zone 5 title Uganda, the Canada-based point guard hailed his team for playing hard, and lauded the friendships he has established with his teammates.

Picking motivation from the highs and lows of the tournament, Kayijuka vowed to work even harder to achieve his ambitions as an individual and for the team.

"This motivates me to go harder next time," he told Times Sport in an interview.

ALSO READ: Basketball: Rwanda, Uganda lock horns in FIBA U18 Zone V final

Kayijuka plays for Canada Topflight Academy, an institution that aims to develop elite basketball student-athletes while supporting and guiding them as they achieve their ultimate goals in basketball, academics and life.

Meanwhile, after reaching the final game of the U18 Zone V tournament, botth Rwanda U18 boys and girls’ teams secured automatic tickets to play the U18 AfroBasket finals.