Aussie prospect Rocco Zikarsky to join NBL Next Stars program - ESPN

Top international basketball prospect Rocco Zikarsky will forgo college and professional options in the United States and sign with the Brisbane Bullets of the Australian National Basketball League Next Stars program, he told ESPN on Thursday.

«I decided that the Next Stars opportunity was just too good a fit,» the 7-foot-3 Zikarsky told ESPN. «Being able to train daily with my Under-17 Australian national team coaches, alongside one of my idols Aron Baynes, in my hometown, for my home club, in the NBL, with my family close by, is a dream come true.

»Being the youngest player ever to join the Next Stars is just the icing on top. I really look forward to what the future holds."

Zikarsky emerged as one of the top prospects in his age group at last summer's FIBA U17 World Cup, where he led the event in blocks and finished top five in scoring despite playing up as a 15-year old. He has since had dominant showings in the Australian U18 and U20 state championships, as well as playing professionally in the Australian NBL1 competition where he ranks third in player efficiency ranking (PER) and first in blocks while playing against older competition.

The son of a 6-10 German Olympic swimming bronze medalist and a 6-1 Australian champion ironwoman, Zikarsky has been developing the past two years at the NBA Global Academy in Canberra, Australia, where he has drawn considerable interest from college coaches in the United States. He says he was being recruited by Duke, Gonzaga, Michigan, USC, Arizona and many schools, as well as the NBA's G League Ignite program.

«I was overwhelmed, but very appreciative of all the college coaches that reached out to me and the time they spent chatting to me about recruitment,» Zikarsky said. «My dad