Akai Nettey was an Athlete of the Year in high school, a four-time MVP and now team co-captain of the George Brown College Huskies men's basketball team.

But there's something else that takes top shelf, even more so than the current fabulous year he is having on the hard court.

The 22-year old can see the light at the end of the tunnel.

Nettey has one year remaining until he graduates in Business and Finance and shuffles off to pursue a career in the financial world. Ask him, and he's quick to say a College graduation is something very special to this Toronto-born individual.

"I'll be the first person in my family to have a Diploma and that's very important to my family and me," said Nettey. "It's great to go to school to play sports, and basketball for me, but getting a Diploma means the world to me. It'll help me go places, do things in the world, that no one else in my family has been able to do."

While Nettey won't back away from anyone challenging him questions in algebra, or anything to do with numbers, people should be aware that mathematics is his specialty. Oh yes, he was also on the school academic Honour Roll in his graduating year at Lakeshore Collegiate.

"Real good at numbers and my plan is to someday work in a bank, maybe also look at being a financial planner and help people at income tax time," said Nettey.

Nettey is not afraid to take chances.

Talented in basketball, he was a member of the Mississauga Monarchs provincial championship team in 2005. A multi-sport athlete in high school playing football, he had to deal with strange comments from people when he suited up for the rugby team.

Now a veteran shooting guard on the Huskies playoff-bound basketball team, Nettey brings more than just leadership to practices and games.  

You might not see him as top scorer all the time, but teammates know his value to the Huskies success is evident every time he dons the team jersey. He's also been averaging 10 points a game.

As for his best game, Nettey started thinking about performance and numbers.

Nettey hesitates, and not one for bragging, finally admits to a 16-point effort in a 67-65 semifinal victory over Dawson College of Montreal at the George Brown Invitational tournament.

He must have needed a bit of time to calculate those numbers.

Source: George Brown College

Photo Credit: Michael Stefancic