For Skyler White, the Commonwealth Games bronze medal hanging on his wall at home represents far more than a piece of silverware.
It represents family, friendship, national pride and an experience he admits he could never have imagined as a child.
But as proud as he is of the medal he won with Scotland at this summer’s Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games, there is already another piece of silverware he has his sights set on.
Because when the new Super League Basketball season gets underway, White will be chasing something he has wanted for years: a Play-off title with Cheshire Phoenix.
“I enjoyed a little bit of time off but after that it was straight to Scotland to prepare for the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow,” White says.
“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 3×3 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.”
The opportunity carried an added significance because White’s connection to Scotland runs through his family.
“My dad is Scottish, so to represent the family legacy like that is something I took a lot of pride in,” he explains.
“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.”
The Glasgow crowd played its part, too. White has never been shy about feeding off an atmosphere, and the home support gave Scotland’s team an extra edge throughout the competition.
“Everybody knows I feed off the fans, whether they’re cheering or booing, I love loud crowds and the energy they bring.
“They were like an extra player for us. They gave us a real home country advantage and we wanted to repay that with performances that made everybody proud of our colours, our flag and our team, and I think we did that.”
The Scotland team also brought together players who had spent the season competing against one another.
Fraser Malcolm, Kyle Jimenez and Owen McCormack were familiar opponents for White, but the shared ambition of representing Scotland quickly changed the dynamic.
“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.”
The medal itself now has pride of place in White’s home, and while he is very clear about what colour the medal actually is, he has already decided how the story will be told years from now.
“We won the bronze medal but 20 years from now I promise you I’m going to be telling everybody we won gold and that the colour has just faded over time,” he jokes.
“It’s been up on my wall, I’ve got a picture of myself and the guys right after we won which goes next to it along with my jersey from the games and my Cheshire Phoenix jersey from last season.
“It’s made the hall of fame in my house!”
For all the pride that comes with that achievement, White is not satisfied.
At 33, he feels he is playing some of the best basketball of his career and believes there is still plenty left in the tank.
“I know I’m getting older and approaching the tail end of my career, but I hope I have a few good years left in me.
“Most people say they feel like they’re playing their best basketball when they’re 27 or 28, but I’m 33 and I feel like I’m just hitting my stride.
“My body is right, my mind is right, I’m in a really good spot and it just helps me focus on doing what needs to be done to be successful.”
That mentality now turns towards Cheshire Phoenix.
The new season is approaching, and with it comes another opportunity for a team that has come agonisingly close to the ultimate prize in recent years.
For White, there is no need for complicated targets.
He simply wants to compete, win and give something back to the club and community he represents.
“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.”
That hunger extends into every practice session.
White knows what it takes to compete at the sharp end of the league, and he expects that intensity to define Cheshire once again.
“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.
“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.”
The phrase “get over the hump” has particular resonance for White.
The O2 has already delivered huge moments in his career, but falling short of the Championship has left him wanting more.
“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.”
The bronze medal will always have its place.
It carries the memory of Glasgow, the pride of his father, the bond formed with his Scotland teammates and the feeling of representing a family legacy on home soil.
But now the medal is on the wall, the jersey is in the collection and the memories are made,
the focus is back on Cheshire and White is ready for another chance to chase the one prize he feels is still missing.
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