HAMILTON, Ohio—It’s not easy for a high school student to move schools. But for junior Sage Tolentino he didn’t just move schools, he moved across the country and then some to chase his dream of playing basketball at a high level.

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When you step into the gym, it’s pretty easy to spot Sage Tolentino.

“I was always tall," Tolentino said. "Like at the age of, since I was born, I was like taller than all my classmates and my teammates.”

The seven foot junior uses his height to his advantage- getting the ball to the rim time and time again.

But Tolentino had quite the journey to get to the Hamilton High School gym. He was born on the island of Oahu and started playing basketball when he was seven. After playing club and realizing he could play at the next level, he wanted to up his training. That along with the pandemic made it known that it was time for Sage to move.

“The training up here is better and it’s must more intense, the basketball games and stuff," he said. "I just wanted my family to support me and they decided to move up here and support me in the process of living here.”

Tolentino first landed in Atlanta- where he says the lifestyle was too busy for him. So a host family suggested Hamilton- and he hasn’t looked back.

“I wanted to try Ohio and it was much more chill and I liked it better than Atlanta," Tolentino said.

Now, Tolentino is impressed with the intensity of training and the competition.

His coach believes it will allow him to further develop into an even better player.

“If he continues to develop and do other things, he’s got unlimited potential," Head Coach Kevin Higgins said. " I mean there’s a reason why big schools were recruiting him is he can do unique things at that size.”

“I feel like I’m taking my game to the next level," Tolentino said. "And I feel like getting that confidence that I’m having and I think playing here is what I needed.”

Tolentino committed to play at Auburn this fall, but that big step hasn’t stopped him from his real dream, which he believes the small town of Hamilton is preparing him to get to.

“For sure to make the NBA," he said. "It’s a lifetime goal. I just want to develop as a player just keep on getting better. And once I go to Auburn, just try and dominate.”