Five-star senior guard RJ Hampton is bypassing college and has agreed to a professional deal with the New Zealand Breakers of the NBL, his father Rod Hampton told 247Sports.

"I think he’s ready, that’s why we weren’t going back to high school," Hampton said. "It’s never been a dream of his to play college basketball, it’s been a dream of his to use college basketball as a vehicle to get to the NBA. ... He’s playing against grown men. He’s learning how to practice like a pro, and learning how to do everything like a pro and I just think those options outweigh going to college.”

Hampton ranks as the No. 5 overall prospect and No. 2 combination guard in the 247Sports Composite Rankings. Kansas, Memphis and Texas Tech were vying for his signature after he reclassified in April to the 2019 recruiting class, but that's when his camp decided to revisit the opportunity to play professionally, one they had been presented with months earlier.

“I kept it on the backburner,” Rod Hampton said. “I want the public to know this isn’t a fly by night move. RJ could get in to Stanford. He has a 1280 on the SAT and a 3.7 GPA. We aren’t doing this for financial reasons or he has to do this, he could have gone to college.”

While Hampton isn’t the first to go from high school to a professional league, recent notables Terrance Ferguson and Emmanuel Mudiay had questions regarding their eligibility.

“He’s setting a trend,” Hampton said. “He’s not doing this because it’s his only alternative.”

Hampton said his son was offered more than $1 million from a professional team in China. He said they also received offers from teams in Europe. In the end, Hampton liked the fit with the Breakers.

“It’s an English speaking country,” he said. “You’re going from Texas to New Zealand and they have a really good partnership with the NBA. His team plays two games against NBA teams this year."

Hampton didn’t disclose the details of the contract, but noted it surpasses what the G League would offer and said they’re working to solidify a shoe deal.

Prior to making his final decision, Hampton called Ferguson for advice. The current Oklahoma City Thunder wing played in the same league but for a different team, the Adelaide 36ers.

“He’s talked to Terrance Ferguson and he’s had a conversations with different guys in college that it didn’t pan out for them for whatever reason,” Rod Hampton said. “I just think he’s at the level he soaks things up so fast, he’s going to grow so much more and I think he’ll grow more playing in a professional league than college."

“He’ll definitely be more prepared for NBA life than if he went to college, and don’t get me wrong, but this isn’t for everybody,” he added.

Hampton, a standout at Little Elm (Tex.) High, played in the first Nike EYBL session in April and averaged 28.8 points, 5.0 rebounds and 4.5 assists in four games. Known for his skill set, Hampton is a gifted scorer that has the ability to be effective playing on or off the ball.

“He knows this isn’t going to be a cake walk,” Hampton added. “When the opportunity is there you have to seize it. He’s thinking anything could happen in college. He could be the No. 10 pick or the No. 1 pick and he can go over there and be the No. 10 pick or the No. 1 pick, but I think just learning the rigors of a professional athlete day in and day out minus the classwork and everything that comes with college is what he wants to do.”