36ers create history with Development Player signing

The Adelaide 36ers have signed talented teenager Raheim Brown Junior as a Development Player, with the Year 10 Woodville High School student becoming one of the youngest players ever signed by an NBL club.

Brown Junior, known as RJ, joins the 36ers after an impressive rise through the South Australian basketball pathway.

The 15-year-old is a West Adelaide Bearcats junior and made his senior NBL1 Central debut this season, appearing in nine games for the Bearcats.

Despite limited game time, Brown Junior showed glimpses of his considerable potential, averaging 2 points, 1.6 rebounds and 0.6 assists per game.

"RJ has unique and advanced athletic attributes and basketball skills for his age," said 36ers GM of Basketball Operations Matt Weston.

"At only 15, he has natural athletic ability and genetic attributes that allow him to compete with people much older than him, as we've seen in the NBL1 this last season.

"We expect RJ won't look out of place in a professional environment, but we know that for him to continue to develop, he needs to be stretched in an environment where he's not the dominant player.

"We're grateful to Woodville High School for working with us to ensure RJ can complete his schooling while developing as an athlete."

Brown Junior comes from a basketball family, with his father, Raheim Brown, having played professionally in both Italy and France.

His signing with the 36ers will see him surpass Cairns Taipans Next Star Luke Paul as the youngest player currently signed by an NBL club.

The 36ers face the Perth Wildcats on Thursday night at RAC Arena from 9.30pm AEST, live on ESPN.