Luke Travers skips US college, goes pro with NBL Wildcats extension

It's official: Luke Travers will remain with the Perth Wildcats for some time to come.

The Wildcats announced Travers' contract extension on Friday afternoon - his commitment to the team will be for three additional years. With this decision, the 18 year old also forgoes his eligibility for NCAA college basketball in the United States, and will begin his pro career.

Travers, who hails from Western Australia, confirmed his decision to go pro, with the Cockburn Gazette's Ben Smith in late November.

“It came down to the lack of motivation at school. I like playing basketball so I want to keep doing that at the highest level and try and make a living.”

The Wildcats coaching staff have been impressed with Travers' potential, one that could see him debut on an NBA court someday.

“The things that jump out to me are [Travers'] size, his skill level," Wildcats assistant coach, Scott Roth said. "Being 18 years old, the sky’s the limit for him. He’s only getting better with experience and some weight on him but he’s definitely got NBA calibre talent, it’s just a matter of slowly putting everything together.

https://twitter.com/PerthWildcats/status/1207933888774860800

“He could be a different version of the next Joe Ingles, a guy that is multifaceted, can handle the ball, can pass, and is a deceiving athlete. He’s in a great organisation with very high level professional players around him, so to learn from those kind of guys is invaluable.”

Travers participated in the FIBA U17 World Cup last year, and averaged 12.9 points, 7.3 rebounds and 3.1 assists.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EoLZO5a45wI

The 6'7 wing has been playing this season with Perth as a development player (DP), and played two games to date.

https://twitter.com/OlgunUluc/status/1202023185685733376

Travers will likely remain in the class of 2023, when he turns 22 and becomes an auto entrant in the NBA draft.