United States scouts from at least three American basketball teams are circling Adelaide 36ers' teenage import Terrance Ferguson.

The 18-year-old Texan is one of the most sought after basketballers in the world, and as June's NBA draft grows nearer, speculation is rife that Ferguson could be picked in the first round.

In a stunning coup for the Australian National Basketball League (NBL), it is the first time a top NBA draft prospect has preferred the NBL to the high-profile US college leagues.

Adelaide 36ers coach Joey Wright said Ferguson is destined for stardom.

"We know he's a good player, we know he's going to be an NBA player," he said.

"Anything he can improve on in between now and draft day, just means more money. That's just the reality of it."

To understand how a player like Ferguson made it to Adelaide, it is important to understand the draft.

To enter, a player must be 19 years old, and a year out of high school. That leaves the star high school recruits like Ferguson with a year to kill.

Most end up playing in the high profile, but unpaid, American college basketball league as they await the draft and a lucrative NBA contract.

Ferguson's decision to spend 12 months playing professional basketball in Australia goes against the trend.

"I think the college basketball system, it uses you," Ferguson said.

"The stadium's making all the money, the school's making all the money, the coach's making all the money but you're not making anything back from it. But at least, come over here, you get paid for what you're worth and enjoy it."

NBL a 'pencil sharpener' for Ferguson

Ferguson was drawn to Adelaide by former international professional Raheim "The Dream" Brown.

Brown spent years playing in overseas leagues and is keen to lure young draft prospects with a paid gap year in the Australian league.

"What we do is, we scout in America from the top 50 players that are ranked by ESPN, and what we do is we take from that list," he said.

With the help of the 36ers' coach, Brown hopes to boost Ferguson's value in next year's draft.

"Terrance is a phenomenal athlete, so we're just the pencil sharpener," Brown said.

"His personality, his character, his size, his basketball IQ — all these intangibles that are wrapped into Terrance Ferguson ... it's kind of like, leading a horse to water but you can't make him drink. Well, Terrance is drinking."

But the quiet streets of Adelaide are a long way from the bright lights of the US leagues, and there is a risk Ferguson could fly under the radar, and hurt his chances in the draft.

Ferguson said that is a risk he is prepared to take, so he can start earning a salary.

"My family don't really have much and I never grew up having much," he said.

Playing to give back to his mum

Growing up, his mum Rachelle Holdman worked two jobs to support her three children.

He said his Adelaide salary allows him to support her, and recognises the sacrifices she and his family made to get him where he is today.

"It's crazy, 'cause my whole life, my whole game, my whole purpose of playing basketball, is just to give back to my family," he said

Ms Holdman has travelled to Adelaide to be by her son's side, and her eyes well up when she hears him talk.

"It's like he don't even consider himself first," she said.

"It's not what he's going to buy himself first… it's what I'm going to get you first. It's like that's so heart warming, to know that he loves me that much."

While he may be a long way from the US media spotlight, the presence of NBA scouts at his Adelaide games proves he is still on their radar.

With just six months to go until draft day, Ferguson said hopefully they find what they are looking for.

"Hopefully they know I'm a good man, I'm a good man of my word, and I'm a loving person," he said.