The Warrnambool student will play at the Basketball Australia national championships for the third time in April, having represented Queensland twice before.

Jaylen, 12, returned to the south-west with his family, including mother, Warrnambool Mermaids coach Louise, last year after five years up north.

The St Pius Primary School student is the youngest in the mixed Victorian side by five years.

Some of his teammates are in their early-to-mid 20s.

“It’s pretty hard to get to know a lot of the people,” Jaylen said.

But he is excited to represent Victoria and “get to know more friends and learn new things”.

Jaylen was born with proximal femoral focal deficiency – a condition which stunts leg growth and impacts on hips.

He uses a prosthetic leg in day-to-day life and plays able-bodied basketball for Koroit’s under 14 side.

He switches to a wheelchair for other competitions.

Louise, who is Victoria’s assistant coach for the national championships in Townsville in April, said Jaylen had undergone serious surgeries as a child.

“His right leg didn’t grow properly and he had a couple of operations,” she said.

“As a two-year-old they amputated his ankle and foot and when he was nine he had a hip operation as well.

“We ‘ll go to the Royal Children’s Hospital in a couple of weeks and find out what’s next. Hopefully that will be the last major one.”

Two Warrnambool teenagers will also represent their state at the national titles.

Jay Rantall and Liam Herbert were picked in the Vic Country under 18 squad as bottom-age prospects.

Their Vic Country under 16 silver medal teammate Dominic Occhipinti was named as an emergency.

Herbert, who is in Bendigo for a competition with his Warrnambool Seahawks’ under 18 side, said he was excited to earn a call-up.

“Being a bottom-ager, I am looking forward to the challenge of playing a different role,” he said.

“I’ll be a point guard but be getting less minutes.”

Herbert, 15, said having Rantall in the team was a positive.

“It always helps having a best mate to train and travel with,” he said.

The former Emmanuel College student has taken up a basketball scholarship at Ballarat-based St Patrick’s College and will start at the school next month.

Meanwhile, Warrnambool Seahawks and Mermaids’ Big V sides will feature in the three-day senior seaside carnival which starts on Friday.

The annual competition is in its 45^th year and attracts teams from around the state.