Lavell Watson is a varsity basketball player, honor roll student, volunteer, son and role model. He's also The Augusta Chronicle Community Counts Youth of the Month.

The Glenn Hills High School junior was nominated by Sandra Sheppard, who works with his mother, Glenda, and has known Lavell for more than six years.

"Lavell always stays focused on his future and handles his day-to-day challenges with a great positive attitude," she wrote on the nomination form.

His motivation comes from home, Lavell said.

"One big motivation -- she might not even know this -- but is my mom," he said.

Ms. Watson has renal disease and must have dialysis every night at their home.

"She does it like it's nothing," he said.

Ms. Watson said she tries to stay upbeat, and Lavell has helped -- he's learned to set the machine, so it's easier.

The perseverance of his grandfather, William Jackson, who continues to work hard, also inspires him, Lavell said.

Lavell started playing basketball when he was 8 and hopes to continue playing in college, but he has priorities: "I gotta be a student before an athlete."

He's also involved in his church. He's the secretary for the Christian Care Ministry at New Life Worship Center and volunteers with Angel Food Ministries food distribution.

In school, his favorite subject is math, and he hopes to earn a degree in computer engineering.

Ms. Watson says she has tried to instill the importance of good grades, and Lavell has taken it to heart. He gets disappointed with a B , she said.

Lavell, in turn, has passed the message along to his 8-year-old nephew, Talique Watson. He helps him with his homework and they play basketball together.