NBL chief executive Jeremy Loeliger says he is more confident than ever the league will have multiple Next Stars players this season.
The NBL made a splash in the US on Tuesday when projected top-five NBA draft pick RJ Hampton said he would forgo his college career to play for the New Zealand Breakers this NBL season.
Hampton is seen as a top-five pick in next years draft and had offers from several top colleges, including the Kansas Jayhawks, but the Texas-based 18-year-old point guard shunned the unpaid college game and chose to take up the offer to become the NBLs latest Next Stars signing.
Hamptons decision shocked many in US basketball, as he was fully able to take up a college scholarship, unlike previous NBL players such as Terrance Ferguson and Brian Bowen, who were ruled ineligible to play at college level.
I just think my dream has never been to play college basketball. My dream has always been to get to the next level and play in the NBA, Hampton said on ESPN.
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So I think this (the NBL) was the best route for me, to live like a pro, and to play with grown men, and not have to juggle books and basketball, and just focus on my main goal.”
Loeliger believes more players could be coming this season. I was confident before RJ that we would have another couple this season, Im probably more confident now, Loeliger said.
Ive had discussions today with a dozen or more agents or family members about the opportunity and they are all guys who would be in the mix for Next Stars positions and Im confident we will land one or two more of them.
Loeliger hasRead More – Source
NBL chief executive Jeremy Loeliger says he is more confident than ever the league will have multiple Next Stars players this season.
The NBL made a splash in the US on Tuesday when projected top-five NBA draft pick RJ Hampton said he would forgo his college career to play for the New Zealand Breakers this NBL season.
Hampton is seen as a top-five pick in next years draft and had offers from several top colleges, including the Kansas Jayhawks, but the Texas-based 18-year-old point guard shunned the unpaid college game and chose to take up the offer to become the NBLs latest Next Stars signing.
Hamptons decision shocked many in US basketball, as he was fully able to take up a college scholarship, unlike previous NBL players such as Terrance Ferguson and Brian Bowen, who were ruled ineligible to play at college level.
I just think my dream has never been to play college basketball. My dream has always been to get to the next level and play in the NBA, Hampton said on ESPN.
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So I think this (the NBL) was the best route for me, to live like a pro, and to play with grown men, and not have to juggle books and basketball, and just focus on my main goal.”
Loeliger believes more players could be coming this season. I was confident before RJ that we would have another couple this season, Im probably more confident now, Loeliger said.
Ive had discussions today with a dozen or more agents or family members about the opportunity and they are all guys who would be in the mix for Next Stars positions and Im confident we will land one or two more of them.
Loeliger hasRead More – Source
