Australian Institute of Sport tips off next January.

The 16-year-old Bendigo Junior Braves guard will become the first central Victoria player to join the AIS basketball program since Glenn Saville, now a star with

Wollongong Hawks, did so in the mid 1990s.

"This a dream come true," Matt said of being selected for the AIS program in Canberra.

News of his selection continues a remarkable year for Matt, who will head to Auckland next Friday to compete in the Oceania youth tournament.

The six-day tournament tips off October 15 and the Australian team, many contenders for the 2009 world under-19 titles, will take on Guam, Tahiti and American Samoa in the preliminary rounds.

The hard work on court and the many hours he has spent travelling to various try-outs and training sessions has led to another big step in Matt's sporting career.

At the AIS, Matt will begin Year11 studies and be on the court four nights a week.

The AIS competes in the South East Australia Basketball League, also lines up in the ACT championship, and each player faces a hectic training program.

"There are three individual sessions we will do, three on strength and conditioning, and four shooting sessions," Matt said.

The point guard's play has been closely followed by the AIS coaching panel.

Highlights of Matt's career include being co-captain of the Victoria Country team that won last year's national championship.

Head coach of the AIS basketball program, Marty Clarke, said it was Dellavedova's play at the past two national championships, under-16 and under-18, that impressed him.

"Matt's play at last year's under-16 nationals in Canberra was outstanding," Clarke said.

"He played a key role in Victoria winning the title, especially in the semi-final and final."

Clarke said there were many factors to consider when evaluating a young player's prospects.

"Matt has great leadership skills, plays point guard brilliantly and can shoot the ball from the three-point arc.

"But there's a lot more to it than his ability on the court.

"Matt has a great work ethic and obviously has to be well organised to have done what he has through his commitments to state teams, ITC, the Braves, and club games."

A Year 10 student at Maryborough Education Centre,

Matt is on the court just about every day of the week and can expect more of the same at the AIS.

Matt said he could not have achieved what he had without the support of his parents, Mark and Leanne, his younger sister, Yana, and many others.

The Dellavedova family was courtside in Queensland last week as Yana and her

Bendigo Bank Lady Braves team-mates contested the under-14 teams championships.

Throughout his junior career, Matt has learned a lot from many coaches.

Among the greatest influences have been Ray Pitts, Maryboorugh's coach of the

ITC program; Marty Handson, Victoria Country's ITC coach; Bendigo Bank Braves under-18 coach, Justin Cass;

Country Victoria Basketball administrator Ashley

Donaldson; and former Bendigo Braves coach David Flint.

There are also many people at Maryborough's Basketball Association who have watched and helped

Matt's progress since he first played the game when he was four.

"David Flint has been a huge help to me," said Matt.

"He was my coach with the junior Braves and these days is a mentor.

"His support, along with Ray, Marty, JC, and Ashley, has and means a lot to me.

"I couldn't have got this far without them."