The Adelaide Crows have pulled off a huge move, signing dual-sport talent Indy Cotton as a Category B rookie.
Cotton is an elite Australian junior basketball player and has represented his country at under 15, 16, and 17 level, coming off an impressive showing at NBA star Stephen Curry's junior camp in China last week.
The 18-year-old, who has not played Aussie Rules for the past four years, making him eligible for Category B signing, was mulling offers to play college basketball, but as it stands, he will be returning to footy, with eight AFL teams reportedly chasing his signature, before putting pen to paper with the Crows.
"We’re delighted to be Indy’s club of choice," Crows General Manager of List Management Justin Reid said.
"He’s an extremely talented kid who, despite a few years out of the game, has all the ingredients to succeed at AFL level.
"His footballing pedigree is clearly evident from his father, and we firmly believe he can be a hugely valuable addition to our squad."
Cotton's father Jarrod, played for Port Adelaide during their inaugural season in 1997, having a successful career in SANFL before going into coaching, where he is now an under-19 Academy Coach and VFL Development Coach at the Gold Coast Suns.
"Having two opportunities in sports, you've got to be super grateful for God that he gives you that opportunity," Cotton told Sporting News Australia. "...I love both sports"
Cotton joins Florida Gators big man Alex Condon as the latest basketball player to sign as a Category B rookie.
Condon, who won the NCAA championship this year and was projected as a fringe first-round pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, before opting out to return for a third season of college hoops, signed with the Collingwood Magpies as his club of choice, should his pursuit of a career in basketball end.
What is an AFL Category B Rookie?
Category B AFL rookies are players signed by clubs with a non-traditional path to the elite level of the sport.
Each club can sign up to three Category B rookies, which can include international players and athletes who have not been registered with an Aussie Rules football club for three years, per the AFL rulebook.
Clubs can sign Category B rookies who are former NSW scholarship players with that club, former International Scholarship players with that club, or a rookie Zone Selection for clubs based in NSW or Queensland.