Melbourne teenager Ben Simmons is set to become the first Australian to play in an annual showcase of the best US high school basketballers.
The 18-year-old was on Thursday selected for the McDonald's All-American game, to be held at Chicago's United Centre on April 1 in front of an expected capacity crowd.
The event has given rise to a number of NBA superstars over the years, including the likes of Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, Shaquille O'Neal, Kobe Bryant, Kevin Durant and LeBron James.
"Hard work really does pay off #Blessed," the son of US-born NBL great Dave Simmons posted on Twitter.
Simmons is in his senior year at Florida's Montverde Academy and has been ranked the No.1 player in the class of 2015.
He has already signed with Louisiana State University (LSU).
"LSU just signed the best player in the world. Check him out," LSU's most famous alumnus, Shaq O'Neal, wrote on Instagram in November.
Another one of Australia's rising youngsters, Dante Exum, has also been named to play in a rising stars match at next month's NBA All-Stars weekend in New York.
The Utah Jazz rookie was on Thursday selected in a team of international first- and second-year players to face an outfit of US youngsters on February 13.
Exum is the only Australian on the World team roster, which also includes New Zealand big man Steve Adams of Oklahoma City Thunder.
The 19-year-old will go head-to-head with Jazz teammate and fellow point guard Trey Burke, whom he replaced in the Utah starting line-up three games ago.
Exum has averaged five points, 2.2 assists, 1.4 rebounds and 1.2 turnovers in just under 20 minutes per game this season.
The 10-man US and World rosters were selected by the NBA's assistant coaches, with one ballot for each of the league's 30 teams.
Share
