Playing the key role of center, 18-year-old Sudesh Paiva is a dominant force on both the offensive and defensive ends of any basketball court, scoring freely and going up for rebounds and blocks with unquestioned authority. With a current starting spot on the junior national team, this colossally talented youngster is already on the ascent to greater heights of sporting glory.

Strangely, Sudesh was oblivious to his proclivity for the game until he was well into his teens, opting to play cricket throughout much of his early school life at St. Peter's College. It was in games played against his classmates during the interval that he began to display his natural ability.

This undeniable ability was in turn duly recognized by one of his colleagues, who also happened to be captain of the school's under 15 basketball team, and Sudesh was eventually handed an open invitation to attend school practices.

(Right) Arun Gooneratne, (left) Madushaka Rathnayake and (centre) Sudesh Paiva, all members of the Junior National team.

At these practices he honed his prodigious raw talent into a more polished and lethal product that began helping in transforming his team's fortunes on the court. In 2008, playing in the 'A' Division of the Under 17 age group, Sudesh was able to help contribute to an effort that saw St. Peter's finish second runner up.

However, playing for the under 19 team in that same year, the teenager was able to secure his first major trophy when the Peterites run away with the Under 19 'A' Division title. This served to buoy both Sudesh's as well as the team's confidence and before long St. Peter's were winning at will and were on an authoritative march forward that earned them three consecutive 'A' Division titles in the two following years.

One of the matches Sudesh says is deeply etched in his mind was a pulsating Under 17 clash against St. Sebastian's College, Moratuwa. The Peterites were pushed to their very limits before they could seal a one point victory, with the final score reading 75-74.

Banking on the experience gained from this success, Sudesh, along with two of his teammates, Arun Gooneratne and Madushaka Rathnayake, turned up for trials for the Youth Asian Games, and were able to book themselves a place amongst the upper echelons of the country's junior ranks.

During his trip to India, where the Youth Asian Games were being hosted, Sudesh functioned as an indispensable cog in his team's wheel, contributing on offense most notably with an 18 point outing against Bangladesh which ended in a Sri Lankan victory.

The youngster still has a year to go before he bids farewell to his school basketball career and his deeply immersed in his training for the upcoming season, realizing that hardwork and dedication are the needs of the hour.

"The team practices for four to four and a half hours thrice a week and sometimes I go for practices four to five times a week if a tournament is approaching," Sudesh divulges. "The one part of the game I feel I need to improve on is my footwork."

Sudesh states that he thinks basketball will play an integral part in his life even after he has left St. Peter's. "It's now a part of my life and I will definitely try my best to earn a place on the country's national team."