A teenage basketball star from a celebrity family in California is set to move to Wollongong in regional New South Wales in one of the most intriguing signings in Australian basketball history.

Key points: US teenage basketball star LaMelo Ball has signed to NBL club the Illawarra Hawks, based in Wollongong

US teenage basketball star LaMelo Ball has signed to NBL club the Illawarra Hawks, based in Wollongong Ball is shunning a year in college to play professionally in Australia

Ball is shunning a year in college to play professionally in Australia The Ball family are US celebrities with their own reality TV show

To put the magnitude of LaMelo Ball's signing to the Illawarra Hawks into perspective, simply head to Instagram.

The Hawks have 18,300 followers — Ball, a 17 year-old, has 4.5 million.

Ball's brother Lonzo, who plays in the NBA has 6.5 million.

The family has a reality TV show called Ball in the Family, also starring their outspoken father LaVar and third brother LiAngelo, who is also a basketballer.

"They're like the Kardashians when it comes to basketball," Illawarra Hawks general manager Mat Campbell said.

"Getting a massive player like LaMelo will help us in the exposure we get and hopefully people will come and check him out."

He said the Hawks' Instagram following went up 5,500 within an hour of the Ball announcement.

"Everything this boy goes near gets sold out," Mr Campbell said.

"It has been a goal of the club to provide pathway opportunities for young talent to play in the NBA … and we believe we're well on our way to achieving that goal."

Ball announces move on live US television

Sitting alongside NBA legend Scottie Pippin, LaMelo chose ESPN to announce his decision this morning.

"I'm going to take my talents to the NBL in Australia, I think it's the best route for me," he said.

"I'm trying to be the number one draft pick for the NBA in 2020 and I've heard they've got great strength and conditioning.

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"Pros have been through there and it's just best for me, I think."

Ball will come to the country as part of the NBL's Next Stars program where the league pays the base salary and the Hawks take care of his living and transport costs.

It is the same program that saw another young star, RJ Hampton, recently announce he will join the New Zealand Breakers in the next NBL season.

International eyes on Wollongong

Australian basketball great Andrew Gaze said the move will direct the basketball world's attention to Wollongong, but how and when to use Ball on game day will be a challenge.

"The NBL is an extremely high standard of competition and these kids might go on to become super stars, but when they're 18 or 19, there's a lot of development to do physically and in learning the game," he said.

Australian basketball great Andrew Gaze said the Ball signing will put Wollongong on the international basketball map. ( ABC Illawarra: Justin Huntsdale )

"I think he'll be a good player who'll be in the rotation for about 15 to 20 minutes per game, but he might have higher expectations and he might warrant more than that.

"Regardless of his potential, if you're talking about winning each week, it's not just about him and getting him to the NBA."

Mr Gaze also said other clubs in Australia had reservations about taking on LaMelo because of his outspoken father, LaVar.

"He is renowned for saying things in the press and causing problems," he said.

"And as I understand it, he was offered to a number of clubs but because of those other distractions, some said 'we're not ready to deal with one of the Ball family'.

"It'll be interesting to see how the Hawks handle it."