The 18 year old from Hoppers Crossing began training with the team today after making the switch to AFL with no prior football experience.
“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.”
After making the Victorian basketball team for the first time at age 11, the 186cm and 92kg Luxford, boasts an extensive junior career which includes being selected in Australia’s under-17 and under-18 teams.
National representation has also led him overseas, Luxford travelled to Lithuania in June 2012 as a member of Australia’s FIBA Under-17 World Championship team who went on to claim the silver medal.
After a successful 2013 which saw him named the Most Valuable Player in the Under-23 Big V League while playing for Werribee, Luxford has elected to try his chances at AFL rather than pursue a career on the court.
Luxford will fulfil his prior basketball commitments which include representing his secondary school, Caulfield Grammar, at next week’s national schools basketball competition and representing Victoria in the Under-20 team next February at the National State Championship in Perth.
“The club has been very lenient and fantastic in allowing me to go back and fulfil my prior basketball commitments, I’m very grateful”, Luxford said.
