US College’s big dollars sparks interest among the NBL’s finest young players

The USA’s college system is taking note of some of the NBL’s best young talent, and the NCAA’s big money endorsement offering is sparking a reciprocated interest from fan favourites. MATT LOGUE with the exclusive details.

US College’s decision to allow athletes to earn big dollars through endorsements could lure some of the NBL’s brightest young stars to leave the competition.

Code Sports can reveal rising talents like Owen Foxwell, Ben Henshall and championship-winning Hawks big man Lachlan Olbrich have all emerged on the NCAA’s radar.

It’s understood Foxwell’s representatives have contacted Phoenix officials to ask about the prospect of a release and for clarity around the NCAA’s criteria.

US College has long been the domain of amateur students, but a move to accept players already playing in professional leagues has sparked interest among the NBL’s best young players.

Owen Foxwell has explored his contract options. Picture: Josh Chadwick/Getty Images.

In June 2021, the NCAA also adopted a policy allowing student-athletes to profit from their name, image, and likeness (NIL), a major shift from the previous prohibition against such compensation.

It’s understood off-contract Perth Wildcats guard Henshall could command $US400,000 to play in the US College system.

The NBL can’t compete with this type of cash, opening the door for a host of players to depart Australia.

However, uncertainty around the NCAA criteria is creating confusion among players, agents and the clubs.

In the past if you made money professionally you were ineligible for the NCAA, but this has changed.

The NBL and its clubs are seeking further clarification on the amount a player can earn to be considered ineligible for US college basketball.

Ben Henshall is on the NCAA’s radar. Picture: Matt Roberts/Getty Images.

One league source has suggested if a player has earnt more or the equalivant of $US75,000 then they are no longer eligible for NCAA.

“There is a lot of tyre kicking from a number of agents and players across the league,” one source said.

“Nobody knows what is going on, it’s the Wild West in the NCAA right now, but it is an issue for the NBL to address.”

Exception in NCAA rules allows younger, overseas professional basketball players still eligible for the NBA draft to come to college, specifically if they meet certain criteria related to their age and professional contracts.

To be eligible to play college basketball, these players must be released from their professional contracts.

Hawks title-winner Olbrich, for example, is set to be NBA draft bound this June but expected to be selected in the second round.

There is an argument for him to take the big dollars in college like star Perth-born Florida forward Alex Condon and then use it as leverage to go first round in the draft the following year.

The NCAA doesn’t have a specific age limit for athletes, but its eligibility rules, particularly the five-year rule for Division I, can effectively limit the ability of older students to maintain amateur status.

Lachlan Olbrich could also explore his collegiate options. Picture: Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images.

A student-athlete in a Division I sport can only compete in that sport for a maximum of four seasons, even if they are enrolled for five years.

The NBL is aware of the big dollars on offer in US College, but is backing its league as a legitimate pathway to the NBA.

The opportunity to play against seasoned campaigners gives the Australian domestic league a significant advantage over college, even if a player has to take the patient road to earning the big dollars.

NBL officials believe Josh Giddey’s road to NBA stardom at the Chicago Bulls is the perfect example.

Giddey excelled as an NBL Next Star with the Adelaide 36ers in 2020-21, winning the NBL’s Rookie of the Year award.

This paved the way for the Melbourne-guard to be selected sixth in the ’21 NBA draft by the OKC Thunder.

Following three largely successful seasons, Giddey was traded to Chicago and after excelling with the Bulls looks set for a bumper pay rise in his next contract upgrade to $47 million a season.

Originally published as US College’s big dollars sparks interest among the NBL’s finest young players