Ever since he started high school Tiago Olivera has been the Garden Valley Collegiate Zodiacs, varsity team's starting point guard.

"No one has ever done that before," said Zodiacs coach Walter Giesbrecht.

Olivera is a 6'4'' grade 12 student at GVC and was recently announced in the top 10 basketball players by the coaches of various "AAAA" schools in the Province.

"It's a great feeling seeing my name on that list along with so many other great players," said Olivera. "It's special to me because it's difficult to make that list being out of Winnipeg, not many City coaches get to see all my games. So I find it pretty special."

Giesbrecht said he has known Olivera since he was in grade five. When he was in grade seven Olivera would join some of the adult players at the outdoor courts and play right beside them.

"I've just been around the game for so long. I've been watching basketball for a while that things just make sense to me," said Olivera. "Most of my basketball career I've been competing against older players, and I think that has given me a type of toughness to my game. My strength has always been my court vision, and my height plays a big role in that, being able to see over most defences."

Giesbrecht is certain Olivera is good enough to continue his basketball career into a post-secondary education. He added as good as he is at basketball he's just as good academically as well with a 92% average in his classes.

"My goal has always been to play at the university level. We'll see where things go this summer," said Olivera. "Another goal of mine is to just give back to the community and make other great players with the knowledge I have for the game."