He's already topped 1.8 metres and, with more growing likely, Tom Paterson chose well when he selected basketball as his sport.
The 17-year-old Katoomba High School student started playing when he was young but in recent years has shown outstanding talent for the game, being selected in various representative teams.
His potential has now been recognised with selection in a junior squad to tour the United States in December. The trip includes a three-day mini tournament in Texas as well as matches against local high schools and representative teams.
Tom, who is in year 11, said while he played in primary school, he "really got into it" in high school.
"Then I eventually got good at it and started playing in local comps."
He was quickly recognised as a young man with a bright future in the game. By Year 9 he was playing in a men's competition (for over 18-year-olds) and, after regional trials, was selected to play in the Sydney west championships.
He was also invited to play rep basketball with the Springwood Scorchers and his team won last year's final of Katoomba's midnight basketball competition.
While he sees himself as "short" by basketball standards, "I can jump high," he said. "And I'm all over the place, I'm everywhere [on court]."
He said, rather modestly, that "someone once said I was naturally talented", which helped form his dream of becoming a professional basketball player.
In representative teams he plays power forward, which involves both offence and defence and a lot of rebounds. Or, as Tom described it: "It's like a dude who can get rough and underneath the basket."
In men's competitions, he usually plays shooting guard.
Tom practises constantly he is on the school court in every recess and lunch break and at home he concentrates on cardio work, bench presses and lower body fitness.
His favourite professional player is Derrick Rose, who plays for the Chicago Bulls in the US NBA.
"He's a point guard and he's so athletic. I get heaps of inspiration from him," Tom said.
Penny Nash, a support unit teacher at Katoomba High who is co-ordinating fundraising efforts for Tom, said his skills had been noticed by scouts who invited him to go on the tour.
"Tom's obviously very talented. It's an awesome opportunity because he can get noticed potentially in the US he could get seen by college scouts," she said.
Maddy Forwood, chairwoman of Midnight Basketball Katoomba and programs co-ordinator for Mountains Youth Services Team, said Tom was not only an outstanding player but also a "joy to coach".
"Tom brought his very best to basketball and displayed leadership qualities throughout the tournament, with many of the younger players looking up to him.
"Tom would be well suited to this amazing opportunity to travel to the US to take advantage of the junior basketball tour as he would be an appreciated teammate and be appreciative of such an opportunity. We are only saddened by the fact that he can't play for us while he is away."
Tom, a Filipino Australian, lives in Leura with his older brother and younger sister. Katoomba High is helping raise the money to get him to the US, holding cake drives, a fudge week, guessing competitions and barbecues. There is also an online fundraising site at http://www.gofundme.com/x3xnb7y, where donations can be made and messages left for Tom.
