2020 NBA Draft: Aussie Josh Green wows scouts; LaMelo Ball, RJ Hampton set to go in top 10
Graduates of the NBL Next stars program - Lamelo Ball and RJ Hampton - have taken most of the headlines but a Sydney-born guard is quietly making waves in 2020 NBA Draft discussions.
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This year’s NBA Draft is set to be prolific for Australian basketball with former NBL duo LaMelo Ball and RJ Hampton expected to be selected in the top 20 along with Australia’s Josh Green.
American pair Ball and Hampton just completed stints in the NBL with Illawarra Hawks and New Zealand Breakers respectively while Sydney-born Green is starring for the University of Arizona.
ESPN has released its latest mock draft and the New York Knicks are projected to select 18-year-old guard Ball with the fifth pick in the June 25 NBA Draft.
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Hampton, who has just turned 19, is forecast to be picked up by the San Antonio Spurs with the 13th pick.
ESPN has the Minnesota Timberwolves taking 19-year-old Green at 17.
The Cleveland Cavaliers are expected to have the top overall pick and select outstanding University of Georgia shooting guard Anthony Edwards.
Ball and Hampton were recruited via the NBL Next Stars program designed to prepare young talent who do not want to, or are ineligible, to play US college basketball before entering the NBA Draft.
If the American teenagers are top 10 or 20 picks it will be a huge vote of support for the Next Stars program and likely will attract a new wave of elite young players to the NBL.
Originally published as 2020 NBA Draft: Aussie Josh Green wows scouts; LaMelo Ball, RJ Hampton set to go in top 10