The 1.94m forward has been named in the Junior Tall Blacks team to play at the Fiba Oceania under-18 tournament in Fiji.
Aitcheson (18), a year 13 pupil at King's High School, left for Auckland last night to link with the rest of the team, just hours after completing his NCEA level 3 exams.
It was a short turnaround, but that was not dampening his spirits as he prepared for his first taste of international basketball.
''I'm expecting a pretty high intensity, pretty athletic [players],'' he said of the opponents.
''I had a look at a few of them [Australians] last year at the Nike Asia-Pacific camp and they're just big and fast.''
The team was picked with an eye to players being eligible for next year's under-19 world championships. Aitcheson played for the team at several tournaments in New Zealand and attended the Nike Asia-Pacific camp in China, but this will be his first proper outing in the black singlet. A squad with quality throughout, Aitcheson believes it could do well.
''We've got a great group. We jell really well together and everyone contributes. I don't think we've got a weak link or anything.''
It had been a big year for Aitcheson, having been a standout on the national stage with King's and the Otago under-19 team.
He was also part of the Mid City Magic team which finished second in the Dunedin men's club competition, his second full year with the A grade side.
Aitcheson believes the sport is in a good place in the region, citing the success of three of his former team-mates from the 2013 national champion under-17 Otago team.
''I think we've got some really good young players. With Richard [Rodger], Joe [Cook-Green] and Sam [Timmins] all over in the States, it's pretty amazing, all in one year, and I think we've got some great talent coming up.''
While college remained an option, for now Aitcheson will remain in Dunedin, and is set to study law and finance at the University of Otago.
''I'll continue playing for the mighty Magic and I'll keep my options open with colleges if I get any offers throughout the year.
''[I'm] definitely still open to [going to college], it just depends what kind of offers I get. I've got a little bit of interest, but not really the stuff I'm looking for.
''I think I probably need to step it up a little more.
''I'm with CCR [Custom College Recruiting] at the moment. I think maybe put a bit more game tape out there and there might be some scouts in Fiji.''
The Junior Tall Blacks will begin their tournament against Samoa on Tuesday. The tournament winner will go to next year's Fiba under-19 world championships.
Dunedin coach Gavin Briggs is the team's assistant coach.
