AFL's Geelong signs champion basketballer

18-year-old Michael Luxford, who won a silver medal for Australia at the world junior basketball titles last year, has signed with AFL club Geelong.

Australian junior basketballer Michael Luxford has joined AFL powerhouse Geelong as a Category B rookie with virtually no football experience.

"It was an enormous decision for Michael and his family to go down a different path and choose footy," said Cats recruiting manager Stephen Wells as 18-year-old Luxford began training with the team on Monday.

"Michael is a very talented sportsman, a high achiever in basketball and school and after plenty of trials with him we can see genuine potential."

After representing Victoria in basketball for the first time at age 11, the 186cm and 92kg Luxford, boasts an extensive junior career in that sport which includes being selected in Australia's under-17 and under-18 teams.

He travelled to Lithuania in June 2012 as a member of Australia's FIBA Under-17 world championship team who claimed the silver medal.

After a 2013 season in which he was named the Most Valuable Player in the Under-23 Big V League while playing for Werribee, Luxford opted to try his chances at AFL rather than pursue a career on the court.

Luxford will fulfil his remaining prior basketball commitments which include representing his secondary school, Caulfield Grammar, at next week's national schools basketball competition and representing Victoria in the Under-20 team next February at the National State Championship in Perth.

"The club has been very lenient and fantastic in allowing me to go back and fulfil my prior basketball commitments, I'm very grateful," Luxford said.