Australian league to introduce new roster spot for NBA draft prospects
Top recruits looking to skip college and head straight to the professional ranks will have another option available to them.
The Australian National Basketball League will introduce an additional roster spot specifically for prospects looking to gain NBA draft eligibility without going to college, according to Jonathan Givony of ESPN.
The "Next Stars" program will pay an annual salary of $78,000 and offer development as an alternative to the NCAA.
"The NBL is considered one of the best leagues in the world and this initiative will give these up-and-coming stars an opportunity to create a name for themselves on the way to being drafted into the NBA," NBL CEO Jeremy Loeliger told ESPN.
"As Terrance Ferguson demonstrated, there are a number of players who for whatever reason won't be part of the U.S. college system but have NBA aspirations and are good enough to be drafted. This will give them the chance to develop in a world-class league in the NBL and push their claims for the NBA."
Ferguson will be the prototype moving forward. The No. 11 recruit of 2016 turned down a chance to attend Arizona and opted to play professionally in Australia before he was selected 21st overall by the Oklahoma City Thunder last summer.
Ferguson averaged just 4.6 points in 15.2 minutes per game across 30 appearances in Adelaide but still managed to be a first-round pick.