Summerland basketball phenom Dezi Ducheck has had a rocket-like ascent up the high-school basketball ladder.

After an impressive season, the high-school senior has inked a spot on the Mount Royal Cougars basketball team in Calgary.

The six-foot-two-inch guard averaged 32 points per game for the Summerland Secondary School Rockets, helping the team to a record of 32 wins and one loss and winning the Okanagan Valley Zone Championships. 

The team鈥檚 sole defeat was in the B.C. Provincial Championship final to the Pacific Academy Breakers.

Ducheck, who is graduating this year, received five offers to play basketball at the college and university level. He selected Mount Royal after careful consideration.

"I know how difficult it is to get seen and get recruited in a small town," said Spencer McKay, director of programming and player development at Lake City Basketball in Penticton. "Josh Mullen, MRU's head coach, never heard of Dezi before, but after I sent him some film, he was instantly interested."

While a spot on the Cougars basketball team will require a considerable time commitment, Ducheck is also looking forward to pursuing a Bachelor of Health and Physical Education degree.

In late July or early August, Ducheck will head to Calgary for training camp, in preparation for his role on the team.

During his time in high school, Ducheck has already shown a strong commitment to his sport, something noticed by those involved in basketball.

Matthew Raimondo, head coach of the high school team, said he has been impressed with the leadership Ducheck brought to the team.

He added that there has been an excitement about basketball in the school, with people holding watch parties as they followed the team鈥檚 progress.

Chris Terris, director of Lake City Basketball, has also been impressed with Ducheck鈥檚 skill and dedication.

鈥淗e鈥檚 a really well-rounded player who doesn鈥檛 have any perceivable weaknesses in his game,鈥� Terris said. 鈥淒ezi鈥檚 a real culture-setter.鈥�

Ducheck's mother is Joanne Malar, a three-time Olympian in swimming. He initially competed in the pool, but found it to be hard work. When he took up basketball, it was the opposite. 

"Basketball has never felt like a chore. I always want to play it and I am really excited to play it on the university level," said Ducheck. 

He added that he has learned valuable skills as a basketball player 鈥� skills he believes will carry him beyond the sport.

鈥淲hat I鈥檝e learned from basketball I can apply to other areas of my life,鈥� he said.