US colleges join AFL with Cotton on their radar

• Indy Cotton was one of two Australian athletes invited to Stephen Curry's Under Armour Camp in China
• Cotton reportedly has eight AFL clubs as well as several high major US colleges chasing his signature
• The 18-year-old has starred at nationals for Queensland and has attended the Basketball Australia Centre of Excellence in Canberra

One of the top young prospects in Australian sport has opened up about his future as he tosses up between a switch to the AFL or a career in basketball, where some of the USA's power college programs have joined the race for his signature.

Indy Cotton, who is now based on the Gold Coast, has just returned from China where he attended the Stephen Curry Under Armour for a week and had the opportunity to learn from and be up close and personal with the greatest shooter of all time.

But the 18-year-old's future is uncertain with a career at an elite US college beckoning as well as a shot at the NBA within his sights but also receiving interest from up to eight AFL clubs, including the premiership favourites, to sign him as a Category B rookie.

"Currently I'm just taking everything in, just being where my feet are and enjoying everyday as it is," Cotton told basketball.com.au.

"I'm not rushing into anything, I'm just enjoying every opportunity that God has presented in front of me."

Having played for Australia at the junior level as well as attended the Basketball Australia Centre of Excellence in Canberra, Cotton is touted as one of the country's best rising talents, especially at the point guard position — helping Queensland to a silver medal at the National Under-20 Championships in Ballarat in February.

But the youngster, originally from South Australia, has history in Aussie rules football too. His dad is a development coach at the Gold Coast Suns who also played for Port Adelaide, and Cotton himself has played the sport at a high level in juniors.

Callum Twomey from AFL.com.au recently reported the Adelaide Crows, who won this season's minor premiership and are the team Cotton has grown up following, were favourites to earn his signature, if he chose AFL.

However, The Southport School product and Gold Coast Rollers junior, is also in the middle of conversations with several high-level division one US colleges to continue his basketball journey.

"We're just kind of going back and forth with (schools) at the moment but should find out more in the coming days," he said.

Cotton faces the difficult decision of making a choice that will shape the rest of his life but said the help of his parents as well as having several NBL legends as mentors has helped him with the process.

"It’s been a extremely hard decision to make, but I think mum and dad have said it best when they said 'no matter what way you go, you get to do something you love every single day, which not everyone is blessed to do'," he said.

"Some days are going to be extremely hard either way but doing something you love is unbelievable and having mentors like Anthony Petrie, Jason Cadee and Phil Smyth — I have been extremely blessed to have them in my life as they have gone through similar situations. But most importantly praying and leaning on God for a lot of guidance in all aspects of my life I can’t be more blessed."

Despite everything around his sporting future being up in the air, Cotton reflected on the once-in-a-lifetime chance to learn from the Golden State Warriors legend in China. He was able to watch and even be part of Curry's workouts at the camp and also hit a buzzer-beating three-pointer in a game right in front of the NBA icon, who celebrated with the Aussie.

"Under Armour emailed and reached out to my dad and I and asked if I wanted to come on the tour which was pretty cool and exciting ," he said.

"The tour was incredible, the amount of people coming out to support and the love for basketball was unreal, obviously being around Steph and the basketball was a highlight but also the people from UA made the trip even more special to spend it with, the amount of detail with the facility and having dad be able to come to everything was amazing.

"I’m extremely grateful to be able to had this experience with Steph, he was extremely attentive in answering any questions I had but also just conversation about life in general. He couldn’t have been a nicer bloke to be around, for everything he had on over there and how busy he was, he took time to get to know me and all the players which shows his care and love for the game.

"Steph was unbelievable, not only watching his workouts and the detail that goes into everything, but the way he carries himself as a professional and joined in with our session and personally passed down things he learned over the years being part of multiple championships and the level that is required for that.

"UA and the Curry Brand were fantastic in allowing dad and I to be part of all it."

Cotton said he was extremely grateful to have learned from one of his sporting idols.

"I mean firstly just extremely grateful to God for him putting me in the position to be there I can’t take any credit for any of it he made it all possible," he said.

"The main thing I took out of it was just the amount of detail and work ethic required at any professional level of sport to become successful, and the incredible experience being able to meet one of my inspiration in sport with amazing people around me."

Cotton was one of two Australians at the Curry/Under Armour Camp with Emilija Dakic, who is also part of the Basketball Australia Centre of Excellence, also attending.