SKYLER WHITE is ambitious as the new Super League season gets underway.
Cheshire Phoenix will open the new campaign on Sunday with their home clash against Bristol Flyers.
It has already been some summer for Nix captain White, who was a member of the Scotland 3x3 basketball team that picked up bronze at the Commonwealth Games - and he is looking for Cheshire to have a hugely successful campaign.
White told the Super League website: “I’m just ready to play. I love basketball. I love competing.
“I love this league and this team. I want to make Cheshire proud. We’ve fallen short a couple of times over the last few years and I just want to get us over the hump at The O2.”
It was a promising campaign last time out for Ben Thomas’ side, who were runners-up in the league and they were beaten by London Lions in the big play-off final.
“We go to war with each other every day in practice and the fans are going to see that passion on the court every night,” insisted White.
“We’re going to get after it, play our style of basketball which our fans love watching but others hate playing against.
“We’re going to stick to our identity, give everybody a show and have a lot of fun this year.”
Missing out on the championship has left the Nix skipper wanting more and he added: “This Commonwealth Games medal means so much to me, but a play-off title with Cheshire would definitely push it for number one on my list.
“I’m sick and tired of getting second place at The O2 and I want that top spot for our fans, our community and this club, so I’m going to give everything I can to get it.”
Following on from reaching the play-off final with Cheshire, it was all about the Commonwealth Games for White.
“I enjoyed a little bit of time off but after that it was straight to Scotland to prepare for the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
“I didn’t know what to expect, I just knew I was going to play basketball at a really high level and I had so much fun. The 3x3 format is amazing. It’s physical, fast, you can’t relax, every possession matters, every shot means more, it was just everything I love about the game.”
Competing at the Games was special for White, who added: “My dad is Scottish, so to represent the family legacy like that is something I took a lot of pride in.
“After winning the bronze medal, I had so many people coming up to me saying we’d made them proud to be Scottish and I could see how much that affected my dad.
“It meant a lot for so many people to say that to his son and his team, so to have that moment and give him that memory was very special.”
In the Scottish ranks, White joined forces with Fraser Malcolm, Kyle Jimenez and Owen McCormack.
“I’d been competing against Fraser, Kyle and Owen all year but we came together so well because of that one shared goal we had being the only thing in our minds.
“I’ve known Fraser and Kyle for a long time and Owen and I clicked straight away. I love those guys to death, we’re forever going to be connected because of the journey we had together and I’m grateful I got to do it with them.”
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