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Fraser Malcolm, 28,
originally of Falkirk, plays for Caledonia Gladiators basketball team in East
Kilbride but initially trained to be a teacher after achieving 5 Bs and a C in
his Highers at Larbert High School.

The 6ft 6 sportsman
spent a year in Iceland, before moving to university in South Dakota in the US
to pursue a teaching degree as well as a basketball scholarship.

He returned to work
part-time as a PE teacher at Gryffe High school in Renfrewshire, before pausing
that career last year to focus on his basketball career.

“At school I was so into
basketball that I could have been better at managing my study time outside of
that. I’d advise any aspiring athletes that they should still find time for
their studies.

“If you want a full-time
career in sport, it’s so important to have those exam results to fall back on
depending on how your dreams play out.

“I loved being a teacher
and had some great colleagues and pupils, and it was great to do both jobs, but
I knew I had to grab the opportunity to play basketball full-time when the
chance came up.

“You’ve got to put your
best foot forward in exams but there’s so many different ways to get to where
you want to go to in your career. It’s definitely not the end of the world if
things don’t work out.”