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AUSTRALIAN junior Michael Luxford will play for Victoria at the national Under 20 championships in February, then quit basketball for an AFL career.

Despite virtually no footy experience, Luxford has joined Geelong as a Category B rookie, the Cats still rapt in the success they enjoyed with another Category B pick-up last year in Mark Blicavs.

Blicavs may have a basketball name – his dad Andris captained Australia at the 1978 World Championship, mother Karen was a dual WNBL MVP, sister Sara plays for Bendigo and brother Kris for Ballarat in the SEABL – but athletics had been his original chosen path.

Blitz  was an outstanding success in 2013, playing 22 matches as a ruckman.

Geelong is hoping for similar success with Luxford, who trained with the Cats for the first time yesterday.

“It was an enormous decision for Michael and his family to go down a different path and choose footy,” Cats recruiting manager Stephen Wells said.

“Michael is a very talented sportsman, a high achiever in basketball and school and after plenty of trials with him we can see genuine potential.”

Luxford, 18 and 186cm, told News Corp he was thrilled Geelong was allowing him to complete his prior commitments.

“The club has been very lenient and fantastic in allowing me to go back and fulfil my prior basketball commitments,” he said.

“I'm very grateful.”

Luxford first represented Victoria at 11 and boasts an extensive junior career which includes national junior team selections.

He travelled to Lithuania in June last year as a member of Australia's FIBA Under-17 world championship team which claimed the Silver Medal.

Named MVP of the Under-23 Big V League while playing for Werribee, Luxford opted to try his chances at AFL rather than pursue an on-court career.

Luxford also will play for Caulfield Grammar at next week's national schools basketball competition.