Teenager set to be Australia’s newest sporting superstar

Melbourne teenager Johnny Furphy is on the verge of basketball superstardom.

The 19-year-old is set to selected in this week’s NBA Draft, making him an instant multi-millionaire.

Furphy attended Maribyrnong Sports Academy, but didn’t make a Victorian team until he was 17.

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He was then picked up by US College team Kansas Jayhawks and now looks set to be a first-round pick in this Thursday morning’s draft (AEST).

Experts are predicting the 206cm guard to be taken anywhere from 10th to 23rd, which will see him follow in the footsteps of Aussies Josh Giddey, Dyson Daniels, Thon Maker, Josh Green, Matisse Thybulle, Ben Simmons, Dante Exum and Andrew Bogut as early draft picks.

“Yeah it’s kind of crazy, it’s getting real now,” he told 7NEWS.

A top-10 draftee will receive a contract of at least $6.5m, while it will be at least $4m if he’s selected in the top 20.

Australian basketball legend Andrew Gaze is already a massive fan of the budding superstar.

“A guy that hasn’t come out of nowhere but it’s been a meteoric rise for someone now considering a first-round draft pick,” he told 7NEWS.

Furphy could now share a court with superstar LeBron James, arguably the greatest player in history.

“He has been in the NBA longer than I have been alive, and to think that I will be going up against him is pretty amazing,” Furphy said.

The youngster is one of 23 NBA hopefuls invited to the “green room” at Thursday’s draft, which means he will be at the Barclays Centre in New York there with his family, including brother Joe, who is a rookie for Geelong in the AFL.

Furphy is also planning a special nod to his fellow Australian basketballers with a specially designed suit.

“I will be wearing a suit with all the Australia NBA players, who have played in the NBA and my name will be highlighted,” he said.

Brother Joe joined Geelong as a Category B rookie in 2023, but has yet to play a senior game.

He has been granted leave by the club to join his family in New York for what will be a special night.

Johnny also played footy as a youngster and believes it will help him throughout his NBA career.

“I played until I was about 16. Playing that sport definitely helped my basketball being able to absorb contact,” he said.

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