Basketball: US high school star eyes NBL move

Terrance Ferguson poses for a portrait during Adidas Nations Atlanta on May 1, 2015 at the JW Marriott in Atlanta, Georgia. Photo / Getty

The Adelaide 36ers are close to formalising a deal with US high school superstar Terrance Ferguson for the 2016-17 NBL season.

Ferguson, 18 and a high-scoring, athletic 201cm swingman, is expected to bypass attending University of Arizona for a year of seasoning in the NBL before declaring for the NBA's 2017 draft.

Securing the exciting future NBA off-guard has been a club "project" for more than a month but Adelaide's hand was tipped today with US reports confirming Ferguson would forego college to play professionally in Australia.

"I have no comment," 36ers chief executive Guy Hedderwick said today.

Ferguson also is expected to sign a deal with Under Armour in a move that would net the 18-year-old an immediate endorsement deal.

Under Armour also handles dual-NBA MVP, Stephen Curry, Golden State's reigning superstar.

Ferguson has graduated from Advance Preparatory International and would be eligible for the 2017 NBA draft per the Show's current rules as a 19-year-old, one year removed from high school.

A quality long-range bomber who would thrive at the 36ers with star import Jerome Randle penetrating and dishing, the McDonald's All-American scored a record seven three-pointers at the Nike Hoops Summit in April.
He already has won three gold medals on USA Basketball's U16, U17 and U19 teams and took his record playing for his country to 20-0 with the Hoops Summit win against the World Select.

Ferguson's 21 points underpinned the 101-67 win, the most one-sided in Nike Hoop Summit history.

Watch some of Ferguson's highlights below:

He would fit smoothly into coach Joey Wright's 36ers rebuild, joining fellow exciting young prospects, Anthony Drmic and Majok Deng.

It also would open a door for "one-and-done" style young talents having a "gap" year in the NBL to prepare for an NBA career.

Randle meanwhile today proved his championship bona fides again, winning the Lithuanian championship with Zalgiris Kaunas.

Randle was the best on court with 16 points and seven assists as Zalgiris beat Neptunas Klaipeda 97-70 to clinch the title 4-1.

It is Zalgiris' 18th Lithuanian championship and former 36ers and Rio Olympics hopeful Brock Motum also stepped up with 16 points and four rebounds.