CHARLIE McIntyre could join a legendary list of top sporting stars on Tuesday.

The 18-year-old wheelchair basketball star has made it onto the final three-person shortlist for the BBC Young Sports Personality of the Award.

And, with Tom Daley, Wayne Rooney, Andy Murray, Phil Foden and Jenson Button among the previous winners, McIntyre remains shocked by his nomination.

“When you think what those people have gone on to do since winning the award I’m not even sure my name should be in the same category,” laughed McIntyre.

“It makes the award even more special but it’s mad really and I just don’t even know what to say.”

McIntyre is joined on the shortlist by snowboarder Mia Brookes and archer Penny Healey at tonight’s ceremony in Salford.

But, despite his own shock, McIntyre’s inclusion is fully warranted after another successful year on court.

“It’s not been a bad year for me, if I don’t say so much myself!,” said McIntyre.

“Last year at the Commonwealth Games it was my first taste of senior level wheelchair basketball but I went on to play in the Euro Cup prelim rounds where I got into the All Star Five, which is the top five players of the tournament.

“There’s a finals of the Euro Cup which we went to at the beginning of the year as well and I got in the All Star team again. Teams from England don’t normally get voted into it so it was quite special, especially being so young.”

McIntyre also led the Great Britain under 22 team to victory at the Home Nations Championship before signing his first professional contract with Dinamo Sassari, who compete in the top division of Italian basketball.

And the former Eastwood Academy pupil is loving life abroad.

“It’s amazing,” said McIntyre.

“They say a lot out there that’s it the Italian way and it really is. It’s so relaxed and just so beautiful.

"I’m so lucky Mountfield Services have sponsored me and they helped fund me a new day chair. It’s given me the freedom to go and explore where I live in Sardinia and I love it.”

But McIntyre is now back home for Christmas and cannot wait to be alongside the biggest sporting stars in the country tonight.

“I’ve never been to a ceremony as big as this,” said McIntyre.

“I don’t know what to expect but I’ve seen it on TV and online so I know it’s a special occasion.

"I’m looking forward to getting there and hopefully speaking to the other athletes nominated in the same category as me and talk to others in different categories too. Its going to be a really cool thing to be a part and it’s really special.”

But it did take time for McIntyre to take in the nomination.

“I got an email from my national governing body at British Basketball,” explained McIntyre.

“It arrived late at night so I didn’t see it until the morning but it just said I had been nominated for the Young Sports Personality of the Year award.

"I searched it up and the BBC came up first so I emailed back asking if it was this and I couldn’t believe it when it was!”

The charismatic youngster first got into basketball while at Earls Hall School having previously dreamed of being a Premier League football.

McIntyre trained with Chelsea when he was six years old but his sporting aspirations altered due to two hip conditions, Perthes disease and SUFE.

And he remains incredibly appreciative of the opportunities coming his way.

“I know some people might look and see being in the chair is tough but my outlook is that my life has been far from tough,” said McIntyre.

“My family are so supportive and I wouldn’t be in the position where I’m in Italy playing basketball if I didn’t have such a supportive network in my closest circle.

“My sister and my mum and dad are the most supportive people of what I’m doing and I’m far from unlucky.

“I’ve not had it really tough.

"Yeah, my legs aren’t great but I’m not dying and there’s not anything massively wrong.

"I’m in a fortunate position where I wake up every day and get to do the thing I love.

“The chair does have its negatives but I wouldn’t be where I am today if I wasn’t in this situation so I consider myself fortunate and I can’t wait for tonight.”