Ahead of his NCAA Division I men’s basketball debut season with the University of Tennessee, budding star Ralph Scott is determined to make an impression.

Since graduating from IMG Academy in May, the Bermudian has been working hard under Tennessee coach Rick Barnes. Speaking during a media conference this week, the small forward expressed his desire to reach whatever heights his abilities allow him to.

“I’m not fully sure yet what my ceiling is,” Scott said.

“But I know I’m going to work as much as I can to be as good as I can be. I want to be a great player, an SEC [Southeastern Conference] player, whatever I can be, I know I’m going to do whatever it takes to get there.”

According to media reports, Scott has already added 20 to 25lb in weight since arriving at Tennessee, filling out a frame that assistant coach Gregg Polinsky said looks nothing like it did a year ago.

“Ralph was always a guy that deferred to other people,” Polinsky said. “This deferring stuff’s over. You are talented, start to play to your ability.”

The 18-year-old is also learning to get rid of some routines such as choosing to pass the ball to team-mates and play a facilitator role rather than taking the shot himself.

“I wouldn’t really say I naturally defer on the court,” Scott said.

“I’ve played with a lot of really good players, so I think I’ve just developed that habit. But they’re telling me I’ve got to get rid of it, so I do what I’m told.”

As a freshman, the 6ft 8in small forward got his first taste of College training a few weeks ago.

“My welcome-to-college moment was definitely sprints after practice,” the Bermudian said.

“I want to say two, three weeks ago. It was the first time in a while that I’ve thrown up after a practice session.”

Scott’s team-mate, Terrence Hill Jr, who transferred from Virginia Commonwealth University, praised the Bermudian’s resilience.

“I could see the potential in him, just how hard he works,” Hill said.

“We’ll go a long day and he’ll still come in the gym and get some shots up after everybody. That shows his maturity.”

Scott indicated that conditioning and on-ball defence have been his biggest areas of growth. He is leaning on returning players like DeWayne Brown II and Troy Henderson to pace him through it.

“Big thing that they told me is it’s not a sprint, but it’s a marathon,” he added.

“You’ve got to take it day by day, you’re going to have good days and bad days. But the more you keep pushing through it, the more you focus on the end goal of being the best player you can be, that’s where you see success.”