Australian hoops sensation Luke Paul recently created history by becoming the youngest ever player to sign with the prestigious NBL Next Stars program.

The Willetton product, who hopes to follow in the footsteps of Josh Giddey and LaMelo Ball to the NBA, said signing his first professional contract at the age of 16 is a "dream come true", while explaining why he chose the Next Stars program.

"[The Next Stars] is a proven pathway," Paul said.

"The landscape of the college has changed so much at the moment with the money, but the NBL Next Stars is definitely a pathway that's proven to get players to the NBA. Guys like Josh Giddey and LaMelo Ball.

"Being able to play against professional players so early [in my career can only be beneficial for my development].

"I want to be beaten up every day and compete against guys that are going to be better than me. I don't want to be the best in the gym. I just want to always be against physical guys. That will fast-track my development.

"I want to know that I'm going to go to a team and I'm going to develop and get better, no matter what. Even if that's not playing 30 minutes a game, it's just making sure I get better in the weight room, off court as a person."

At just 16 years, 10 months and 29 days old, the 6'6 Paul eclipsed Melbourne United's Dash Daniels as the youngest person to ever put pen to paper on a Next Stars deal.

The guard's signing marks another coup for the NBL’s globally respected Next Stars program, which continues to develop its reputation as a proven pathway for young prospects across the world.

Next Stars have been selected in each of the past six NBA Drafts, with six prospects from the program snapped up across the past two NBA Drafts alone. In total, eleven Next Stars have been drafted directly from the NBL to the NBA since 2020; LaMelo Ball (2020), RJ Hampton (2020), Josh Giddey (2021), Ousmane Dieng (2022), Rayan Rupert (2023), Alex Sarr (2024), AJ Johnson (2024), Bobi Klintman (2024), Ariel Hukporti (2024), Rocco Zikarsky (2025) and Alex Toohey (2025), with current Next Stars Karim Lopez (New Zealand Breakers) and Dash Daniels (Melbourne United) currently projected to be selected in this year’s draft, set to be held in Brooklyn in June.