Canberra schoolboy Dante Exum plans to sit down with Kobe Bryant to learn the secrets behind the superstar's successful leap from high school to the NBA.
LA Laker great Bryant became the first guard in history to bypass college and be drafted straight out of high school in 1996. Exum, who completed high school last year, is preparing for a similarly rapid rise to the big stage after announcing last week he would forego college and nominate for June's NBA Draft.
The point guard has signed with Bryant's manager Rob Pelinka, who has told the 18-year-old that Bryant is willing to give him advice on how to handle the leap. The Lakers, in the midst of a disappointing season, have already contacted Australia basketball great Luc Longley to discuss Exum, who led Canberra's Lake Ginninderra College to last year's national schoolboys title.
''A reason why I signed with the agent I'm with is he has Kobe Bryant, and he's been through this when he came into the NBA,'' Exum said.
''I guess having him as a mentor who can guide me through what he did and how he became successful is something which is pretty good. I haven't chatted to him yet, but the agent said Kobe knows who I am and he said he'd definitely have a chat to me.''