[2] Stone, whose cricket interest didn't stem directly from his family, attended Hellenic Junior School in Harare where sports coach Donald Mlambo nurtured his skills.
[3] As a pace bowler and often a top-three batter in school, Stone moved to middle-order batting, preferring positions five or six.
[3] Despite setbacks like an ankle injury from rugby and appendicitis, Stone applied for the Academy and was accepted after leaving St John's in his fourth-form year.
[3] Stone took a brief vacation in Perth, Australia, where he met former Zimbabwe captain John Traicos and got some coaching sessions.
[3] Stone made his first-class debut in the Logan Cup in 2000, but as one of the junior Academy members, he only played one match in the four-match program, scoring a few runs and failing to take a wicket.